Global warming: the European climate report 2024 shows that Europe has warmed 2.4 ° C compared to the pre -industrial era.
Europe is confirmed by the continent that warms faster: + 2.4 ° C more than the pre -industrial period in 2024, while the rest of the planet has risen by 1.3 ° C. Practically the double: only the Arctic has warmed more (+3.3 ° C), due to the loss of ice that reduced the albedo, that is, the reflection of the sun’s rays. Therefore, the old continent has abundantly exceeded the limits (+ 1.5 ° C) provided for by the Paris agreement on climate change and global warming.
We have seen the effects: a surge of extreme weather phenomena, or heat waves, floods, hailstorms, air trumpets and fires. Storms and floods hit 413 thousand people (335 victims, especially in Valencia), the fires had an impact on 42 thousand inhabitants (especially in Portugal). The estimated losses were 18.2 billion euros and is a downward count.
But it is not the only worrying novelty that emerges from the report “The European state of the climate 2024” presented today by the over 100 scientists of the Copernicus service and the World Meteorology Organization. “This report” commented Elisabeth Hamdouch, deputy responsible for the observation of the land of the European Commission “It shows that Europe is seriously affected by climate change.”
The specificity of Europe is the greatest presence, compared to other continents, of emerged lands, which absorb more solar radiation. This fact, combined with the continuous growth of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane), has created the conditions for the surge in temperatures and extreme weather events.
Heat and ice. As for the heat, between June and August the heat waves characterized almost half of the period (43 days a week). With different effects: the deaths have not yet been quantified, but according to the IPCC a heating greater than 1.5 ° determines in Europe at least 30 thousand deaths per year, mostly elderly. The heat, then, favored the fires, which hit 42 thousand Europeans in all: in September, about 110,000 hectares went to Portugal in Portugal (1,100 km2) in a week.
The surge in temperatures has been dramatic for European glaciers: central Europe is one of the regions of the world in which glaciers are reducing more quickly. In 2024, the glaciers of Scandinavia and the Svalbard recorded the highest loss rates globally, with an average loss of a thickness of 1.8 meters in Scandinavia and 2.7 meters at the Ovvalbard. «Since 1975, when measurements began, European glaciers
They lost 9 thousand billion tons: to give an idea, a block of ice as large as Germany and often 25 meters “. A very serious ecological loss: the glaciers contribute to cooling the planet thanks to their clear surface, and are an important fresh water reserve.
Rivers and floods. 2024 was a black year for floods, the most serious of the last 12 years. Almost a third of the European river network has exceeded the “high” flood threshold. Storms and floods hit about 413,000 people in Europe, with at least 335 victims. The Boris storm in September caused floods in 8 countries (Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Romania and Italy), doubling the scope of the rivers. And the month following Valencia fell in 5 days the equivalent of 3 -month rainfall, causing 232 victims. In short, the climatic extremes hit the rivers hard: according to IPCC Europe is one of the world regions most at risk of floods when rainfall becomes particularly intense.
Europe divided. The old continent, in 2024, found itself divided from a meteorological point of view: to the usual contrast between the coldest north and the hottest south, the one between the east and the west was added. In Eastern Europe, as in the South, most of the year has recorded higher than average or record temperatures. With the result that the flows of the rivers were lower than the average for most of the year. In Western Europe, however, the temperatures have been more variable (often in the seasonal or lower average), and with a cloudy coverage higher than the average.
Why did it happen? «It is too early to say if it was an effect of climate change, it will be necessary to see if it will be confirmed in the years to come. It was the effect of prevalent atmospheric circulation »replies Samantha Burgess, VCopernicus Climate Change Service coprernicus. «We have had high pressure systems that often positioned themselves on Eastern Europe, where there have been less clouds and more sun. In addition, these systems recalled hot air from the Mediterranean, strengthening heat. In Western Europe, however, low pressure systems were more frequent, which brought Atlantic storms, with greater flow of cold and humid air. Result: Western Europe has recorded a cloudy coverage higher than the average, while Eastern Europe has enjoyed a number of hours of higher than average, with negative repercussions on the flow of rivers, lower than average for most of the year “.
The good news. In this worrying scenario, fortunately there are two good news. The greatest insolation has favored the production of green energy: the percentage of electricity production from renewable sources in Europe reached its historic maximum in 2024, with 45%.
And, compared to 2018, the amount of cities that adopted climatic adaptation plans has doubled: 51% compared to 26% in 2018. Milan and Paris increased the green surface, to mitigate the effect of heat waves. In Glasgow, infrastructures have improved to prevent floods and an early alert system was created to warn the population in case of extreme events. «But there is still a lot of work to do, because every more fraction of grade counts: it counts in terms of risks for our economies, of upheavals in our society, of damage to our ecosystems and threats for our children and grandchildren. Climate adaptation is not a future option but a need for today. We must make societies and economies more resilient to extreme events, “said Celeste Saul, general secretary of the world meteorological organization.
