Overview

• 2024 was Europe’s hottest year on record, with temperatures 2.4°C above pre-industrial levels and 45% of days significantly warmer than average.
• Extreme flooding affected over 413,000 people, caused 335 deaths, and marked the most extensive inundations since 2013, particularly in Western and Central Europe.
• A sharp climate divide emerged, with Western Europe experiencing record rainfall and flooding, while Eastern and Southeastern Europe faced severe droughts and 43 days of extreme heatwaves.
• European glaciers, including those in the Alps and Svalbard, saw unprecedented mass losses, with some regions losing up to 2.7 meters of ice thickness in a single year.
• Only half of European cities have robust climate adaptation plans, highlighting the urgent need for improved resilience against escalating climate risks.