Climate risks in Europe

In recent years, Europe has seen some of its highest temperatures ever recorded, exceeding pre-industrial levels by more than 2.2°C, a rate more than 2.5 times the global average. Summers have been consistently warmer than usual, signalling a worsening climate crisis. Northern Europe, especially during winter, is notably warming, affecting snow cover and permafrost. This trend is mirrored in mountainous regions across Europe such as the Pyrenees and the Swiss Alps.

In 2021, Germany and Belgium faced severe flooding, resulting in EUR 44 billion in damages and over 200 fatalities. In 2023, Slovenia was hit hard by extreme weather, with damages estimated at a staggering 16% of its GDP. Greece also grappled with flooding in 2023, particularly affecting its vital agricultural sector. Meanwhile, southern and western-central Europe are grappling with drier summers and an increase in heatwaves, urging swift adaptation. The exceptionally hot summer of 2022 saw an estimated 60,000-70,000 premature deaths and a surge in the transmission of tropical diseases by mosquitoes across Europe. The rapid melting of Alpine glaciers and rising sea surface temperatures further exacerbate climate risks. Europe's climate narrative is characterised by extreme heat, cold spells and shifting precipitation patterns, calling for an urgent re-evaluation of our approach to addressing and adapting to these emerging climate realities.

Overall, Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability and people’s health. The first ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) highlights 36 major climate risks, many of which need urgent action.

EUCRA focuses on four land and marine macro-regions. It aims to help identify policy priorities for climate change adaptation and for climate-sensitive sectors. Find out what risks are highlighted for your area in the EEA report. Figure 2 below gives the trends in key climate-related hazards in different regions in Europe:

Figure 2: Observed and projected trends in key climatic related hazards in different European regions (EUCRA,2024)

The above presents trends in critical climate-related hazards across various European macro-regions, including heatwaves, heavy precipitation, and drought. It encompasses both observed data from the past (1952-2021) and projected trends for the future until the end of the century (2081-2100). These projections are based on different socioeconomic pathways, represented by scenarios SSP1-2.6 for a low scenario and SSP3-7.0 for a high scenario. The information is sourced from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), ensuring reliability and credibility.