{"id":25835,"date":"2026-04-29T07:10:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T07:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/25835\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T07:10:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T07:10:32","slug":"europes-climate-warming-twice-as-fast-as-the-rest-of-the-world-insights-from-the-latest-esotc-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/25835\/","title":{"rendered":"Europe\u2019s climate warming twice as fast as the rest of the world: Insights from the latest ESOTC report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rebecca Emerton, Senior Scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service<\/a> (C3S), discusses the latest European State of the Climate (ESOTC) report, exploring key findings on rising temperatures, extreme weather, and climate impacts across Europe.<\/p>\n

Europe\u2019s climate is shifting at a pace that is no longer abstract or distant \u2013 it is visible, measurable, and increasingly disruptive. From shrinking snow cover in the Alps to record-breaking ocean temperatures in the Mediterranean, the latest data shows a system under sustained pressure.<\/p>\n

The ESOTC 2025 report<\/a>, produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts<\/a> (ECMWF) on behalf of C3S, in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization<\/a> (WMO), provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of these changes. Drawing on the work of around 100 scientists, it brings together dozens of datasets spanning atmosphere, oceans, and land.<\/p>\n

The conclusion is stark: Europe remains the fastest-warming continent, with impacts already affecting ecosystems, economies, and everyday life.<\/p>\n

European climate change drives loss of snow and ice<\/p>\n

One of the clearest signals of Europe\u2019s climate change is the rapid decline of snow and ice. These frozen systems have long acted as a natural cooling mechanism, reflecting sunlight back into space. As they shrink, more heat is absorbed, accelerating warming further.<\/p>\n

In 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average temperatures. Freezing winter days are becoming less common, and snow cover continues to retreat. In March, snow extent was around 31% below average \u2013 one of the lowest levels recorded.<\/p>\n

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Glaciers are also losing mass, while the Greenland Ice Sheet continues to shed ice at a scale that contributes directly to rising global sea levels. These changes are reshaping water systems and seasonal patterns across the continent.<\/p>\n

Extreme heat and heatwaves across Europe<\/p>\n

Extreme heat is no longer confined to southern Europe. The report shows heatwaves stretching from the Mediterranean deep into sub-Arctic regions.<\/p>\n

In 2025, temperatures exceeded 30\u00b0C within the Arctic Circle during a prolonged heatwave in Fennoscandia. At the same time, heat stress intensified across much of Europe. In parts of southern and eastern Spain, there were up to 50 more days than average with \u201cfeels-like\u201d temperatures above 32\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

The oceans are reinforcing this trend. European seas recorded their highest temperatures on record, with widespread marine heatwaves affecting most of the region. These conditions can intensify heat on land, particularly at night, when higher humidity limits cooling and increases health risks.<\/p>\n

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Water under pressure<\/p>\n

Europe\u2019s water systems are becoming more volatile. In 2025, around 70% of rivers experienced below-average flow, and soil moisture levels were among the lowest recorded in recent decades. By May, more than half of the continent was affected by drought conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time, rainfall patterns are becoming more uneven. Some regions faced prolonged dry periods, while others experienced intense precipitation and flooding. This growing variability reflects both short-term atmospheric patterns and longer-term climate shifts.<\/p>\n

These conditions are already affecting agriculture, water supply, and energy systems, highlighting how closely climate and infrastructure are linked.<\/p>\n

Wildfires expanding beyond traditional hotspots<\/p>\n

Hot and dry conditions contributed to a record year for wildfires. More than one million hectares burned across Europe in 2025 \u2013 an area larger than Cyprus.<\/p>\n

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While southern Europe remains particularly exposed, wildfire activity is expanding into regions that have not historically faced the same level of risk. Countries including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany recorded their highest wildfire emissions on record.<\/p>\n

Beyond immediate damage, wildfires release significant amounts of carbon and pose long-term risks to ecosystems, reinforcing the broader cycle of climate change.<\/p>\n

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Nature under increasing strain<\/p>\n

The impacts of a warming climate are increasingly visible in Europe\u2019s ecosystems. Marine and terrestrial environments are under pressure from rising temperatures, drought, and extreme events.<\/p>\n

Marine heatwaves are affecting sensitive habitats such as seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean, while shifting rainfall patterns and wildfire activity are altering landscapes on land. Species are being forced to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, often with limited capacity to do so.<\/p>\n

Efforts to restore ecosystems and integrate climate and biodiversity strategies are gaining momentum. But the scale of change outlined in the report suggests that progress will need to accelerate.<\/p>\n

A system in transition<\/p>\n

Taken together, the findings of the ESOTC 2025 report point to a continent in transition. Rising temperatures, shifting water cycles, and increasing extremes are not isolated trends, they are interconnected and reinforcing.<\/p>\n

Understanding what is driving these changes, and what they mean in practical terms, is becoming increasingly urgent.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, we spoke with Rebecca Emerton to find out more.<\/p>\n

Please can you explain how you collect the data for the ESOTC report? Has anything changed from last year \u2013 any new methods or technologies?<\/p>\n

The report is a very large undertaking each year. We work with around 100 scientists across Europe and globally. Everyone contributes to analysing datasets, interpreting the data, and writing the report.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a genuinely collaborative effort, with scientists bringing different areas of expertise. Many of them actually produce the datasets themselves, so they understand how they\u2019re created, how best to analyse them, and how to interpret the results.<\/p>\n

We hold regular meetings across all the report\u2019s topics as the data is finalised and analysed, to identify the key messages for the year. This year, we\u2019re using around 45 datasets, covering roughly 21 topics, analysed both by contributing scientists and by our teams at ECMWF and WMO.<\/p>\n

Compared to last year, there are a few new elements. We\u2019ve added a dedicated section on why Europe is warming faster than other continents. We also have new datasets on snow cover across Europe \u2013 previously, we focused more on snow days. And there\u2019s a new section looking in more detail at the Greenland ice sheet.<\/p>\n

In addition, each year the WMO contributes a policy-focused section, and this year, that focuses on biodiversity, which is a new angle for us.<\/p>\n

The main headline is that Europe is the fastest-warming continent. What sets it apart from the global average?<\/p>\n

There are several factors, and we\u2019ve dedicated a full chapter to this in the report. Over the past 30 years, Europe\u2019s climate has been warming at just over twice the global average rate.<\/p>\n

Some variation is expected globally. Land warms faster than oceans, and changes in atmospheric circulation can create regional differences. Air quality also plays a role.<\/p>\n

For Europe specifically, key factors include changing weather patterns \u2013 shifts in atmospheric circulation are leading to more frequent and intense summer heatwaves. Reduced air pollution is another factor. Since the 1980s, stricter regulations have lowered aerosol concentrations.<\/p>\n

As air pollution decreases, cloud cover can also decrease, allowing more solar radiation to reach the surface, which contributes to warming.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the loss of snow cover. As snow declines, less sunlight is reflected back into space, so more heat is absorbed. And finally, part of Europe lies within the Arctic, which is the fastest-warming region on Earth. Geography plays a role there as well.<\/p>\n

On heatwaves \u2013 these are now reaching subarctic regions, with temperatures above 30\u00b0C inside the Arctic Circle. Is this a threshold moment, or part of a longer trend?<\/p>\n

I\u2019d say it\u2019s part of a broader trend. Across Europe and globally, we\u2019re seeing heatwaves becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting.<\/p>\n

Looking at the Fennoscandian heatwave highlighted in the report, some past heatwaves have reached higher peak temperatures, so the intensity wasn\u2019t completely unprecedented. But what stood out here was the scale and duration.<\/p>\n

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The affected area was much larger than in previous events, and the heatwave lasted around 21 days. The previous most severe event in that region lasted about 11 days. So it was the duration and spatial extent that really made it significant.<\/p>\n

These rising temperatures are also reducing snow cover and accelerating glacier loss. To what extent are feedback effects, like reduced albedo, now driving further warming?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s definitely an important factor, particularly in the Arctic. This is part of what\u2019s known as Arctic amplification.<\/p>\n

As snow and ice melt, the surface reflects less sunlight, so more heat is absorbed. That leads to further warming, which causes more melting, and so on. These feedback loops are a key reason why warming is happening so quickly in colder regions.<\/p>\n

Sea surface temperatures have also hit record highs. Are the oceans no longer buffering these effects? Are they now contributing to warming?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not my core area, but ocean temperatures do play a role. Warmer seas around Europe, including the Atlantic, can influence the temperatures we experience on land.<\/p>\n

So the record-high sea surface temperatures last year likely contributed to the elevated temperatures across Europe.<\/p>\n

It was also a record year for wildfires beyond traditional hotspots. Are we seeing a structural shift, or could this be a one-off?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s likely part of a trend. In recent years, summers have increasingly created conditions that are favourable for wildfires across Europe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report<\/a> (AR6)\u00a0highlights that wildfire risk is expected to increase across all regions, particularly in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. But projections also suggest that wildfire-prone areas could expand into Western, Central, and Northern Europe.<\/p>\n

So there is a growing risk of new regions becoming susceptible. The EU is responding with new initiatives to track wildfires<\/a>. It\u2019s always encouraging to see scientific findings reflected in policy decisions and initiatives.<\/p>\n

Heat stress is another issue raised in the report. Do you think its impacts are currently underestimated?<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s likely we\u2019ll see increasing impacts as the climate warms. Heat stress has been rising across Europe, particularly since the 1980s.<\/p>\n

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In recent summers, there have been tens of thousands of heat-related deaths, with heat stress being a major factor. It\u2019s important that this is addressed through measures like heat-health action plans and public awareness of the risks.<\/p>\n

What were the main patterns of flooding across Europe in 2025?<\/p>\n

In recent years, we\u2019ve seen widespread flooding across Europe. In 2025, there were still significant flood events, but overall flooding was less widespread because much of Europe was drier than average.<\/p>\n

There were strong regional contrasts \u2013 dry conditions across northwestern to eastern Europe, and wetter conditions in the Iberian Peninsula and parts of Northern Europe. These differences affected rainfall, soil moisture, river flow, and flooding.<\/p>\n

What caused that contrast?<\/p>\n

It was largely driven by atmospheric circulation patterns. High pressure brought dry, sunny conditions to northwestern and central Europe, while low pressure over the North Atlantic shifted storm tracks southwards, leading to wetter conditions in southwestern Europe.<\/p>\n

These patterns vary from year to year, so hydrological conditions can change significantly depending on where storm tracks are positioned.<\/p>\n

So, regions that experienced unusual flooding shouldn\u2019t necessarily expect the same next year?<\/p>\n

Exactly. It varies year to year. That said, the report also includes longer-term trends.<\/p>\n

The IPCC indicates that Northern Europe is becoming wetter on average, while Southern Europe is becoming drier. However, heavy precipitation events are increasing across most of Europe, even in regions where average rainfall is declining.<\/p>\n

So extreme rainfall is becoming more frequent and intense, which means flood risk can still increase even where overall precipitation decreases.<\/p>\n

The report also shows a significant increase in renewable energy generation. But at the same time, climate impacts are worsening. How should we interpret that?<\/p>\n

It means we need to continue reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible.<\/p>\n

The growth in renewable energy<\/a> is very positive \u2013 it helps reduce emissions and mitigate future warming. But it takes time to see the full effect. Every reduction in emissions contributes to limiting further warming.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Finally, are we making progress? To those reading the report, what would your message be?<\/p>\n

I\u2019d encourage people to read the report and stay informed about what\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n

Everything we do to address climate change helps. Staying informed, making good decisions, and continuing to make progress, that\u2019s the most constructive approach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rebecca Emerton, Senior Scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), discusses the latest European State of the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25836,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1294,10846,4,10847,8027],"class_list":["post-25835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-europe","tag-climate-change","tag-climate-modelling","tag-europe","tag-natural-disasters","tag-satellites"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25835\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}