A new report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Copernicus Climate Change Service says almost all of Europe will experience above-average heat in 2025, a year that has broken records for forest fires, sea temperatures and heatwaves as climate change worsens. According to the European State of the Climate report, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average temperatures and forest fires burned more than 1 million hectares of land.
Europe is feeling the heat of climate change
The report, which says Europe continues to be the fastest warming continent, said the region is warming twice as fast as the global average.
The scientists also pointed out that rapid warming across the continent last year caused significant reductions in snow and ice cover, record heat waves on land and sea, drought, wildfires and continued loss of biodiversity.
The overall sea surface temperature in Europe reached an annual record, with 86% of the region suffering from severe sea heat.
“Heatwaves affected the entire continent, including the second strongest heatwave on record in Europe and the longest and most severe July heatwave in sub-Arctic Fennoscandia, with temperatures near and inside the Arctic Circle exceeding 30°C,” the report said.
“The State of Europe Climate Report shows once again that climate change is a reality for Europe and highlights the importance of a world-class independent Earth observation system. Copernicus provides the information we need to guide decisions that shape a more resilient, sustainable and strong future for Europe,” Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defense and Space, said in a statement.
Climate change has increasingly serious consequences
The findings show that climate change is having increasingly serious consequences in Europe at a time when some governments are trying to weaken emissions reduction policies due to economic concerns. The European Union has pledged to stick to its green targets, but last year it weakened some climate rules for cars and companies after pressure from industry to help struggling firms.
Samantha Burgess, strategy lead at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said the report showed that “climate change is not a future threat, it is our present reality”.
“The pace of climate change calls for more urgent action,” she said.
Concerns about snow and ice cover
WMO and Copernicus noted particular concerns about changes in Europe’s coldest regions – where snow and ice cover is crucial to slowing climate change by reflecting sunlight back into space. This phenomenon, known as the “albedo effect”, is reduced if higher temperatures cause more melting. Ice loss also contributes to sea level rise.
Sub-Arctic Norway, Sweden and Finland experienced the worst heat wave on record last July, lasting three consecutive weeks, with temperatures inside the Arctic Circle exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Iceland has seen the second-biggest loss of glaciers in 2025 since records began, the report said.
Key things
- Europe is warming at twice the global average, underscoring the urgency of climate action.
- Record-breaking heat waves and forest fires are becoming more frequent, indicating serious climate impacts.
- Governments face challenges in balancing economic interests and necessary climate policies.
