Summary
- 1.Key Facts ESOTC 2024
- 2.Widespread flooding, extreme heat and drought in eastern Europe
- 3.Striking climate contrasts
- 4.Renewable energy progress
- 5.Shrinking glaciers
Bonn, 15/04/2025
Anomalies and extremes in annual surface air temperature in 2024. (Left) Anomalies and extremes in annual precipitation in 2024. (Right) Data: ERA5 Credit: C3S
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and the impacts of climate change here are clear. 2024 was the warmest year on record for Europe, with record temperatures in central, eastern and southeastern regions. Storms were often severe and flooding widespread, claiming at least 335 lives and affecting an estimated 413,000 people. During the year, there was a striking east-west contrast in climate conditions, with extremely dry and often record-warm conditions in the east, and warm but wet conditions in the west.
The European State of the Climate 2024 (ESOTC 2024) report, released on 15 April 2025 by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), involves around 100 scientific contributors providing holistic yet concise insights into Europe’s climate, including through resources such as a brand-new graphics gallery with 130 charts and infographics.