Europe has experienced warmer weather than usual in the past few years, and according to a recent report by the European Union's (EU) Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the trend will continue.
The latest European State of the Climate Report stated that the continent witnessed the "largest wildfire ever recorded, one of the wettest years, severe marine heatwaves and widespread devastating flooding," according to C3S director Carlo Buontempo.
The report was authored by C3S and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
DW reported that the three warmest years in Europe have all occurred since 2020, and the ten warmest since 2007.
In 2023, Europe also saw 7% more precipitation than average, with a third of Europe's rivers surpassing the "high" flood threshold, with some experiencing severe flooding.
Flooding hit some 1.6 million people on the continent, killing at least 40, according to the International Disaster Database. Storms claimed 63 lives, while 44 died in wildfires.
Weather and climate-related events caused around €13.4 billion ($14.3 billion) in damages - over 80% of which were linked to flooding.
"The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our generation," WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said. "The cost of climate action may seem high, but the cost of inaction is much higher."
C3S and WMOP researchers added that damaging health impacts linked to climate change also rose across Europe.
The number of people dying from heat has soared around 30% over the past 20 years, while 2023 saw a record number of days with "extreme heat stress." The worst of such happened in July when some 41% of southern Europe experienced strong, very strong, or extreme heat stress.
Scientists define "extreme heat" as temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 Fahrenheit) when it is essential to take action to avoid health risks like heatstroke.
Heat stress, however, measures how the human body responds to high temperatures combined with humidity, wind speed, and solar and thermal radiation.
Meanwhile, prolonged heat stress could worsen existing health conditions and increase the risk of exhaustion and heat stroke, particularly among small children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
However, according to the report authors, the public completely underestimated the risks posed by increasing heat.
Europe is reportedly the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising over twice the global average. Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess said this is partially because of the continent's proximity to the Arctic.
The Arctic has eventually warmed around four times quicker than the rest of the world.
Burgess added that improved air quality in Europe had also contributed to warming because fewer particles in the air reflected sunlight, Which helped cooling.
However, what improved in C3S's report was a 43% increase in electricity generated from renewable energy sources in Europe.
This meant that more electricity came from renewables than climate-damaging fossil fuels for the second year in a row.
Having said that, the authors also warned that greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, which cause planetary heating, continue to rise.
As a result, the planet would likely continue to smash new weather records until humanity reaches net zero and the climate has stabilized, Burgess added.
