Climachaos: at the same time too wet and dry

This is the result of the state report of the climate in Europe in 2024, a joint report from the climate wall service of the EU program Copernicus and the World Weather Organization (WMO).

Highest average temperature since the start of the measurement
It was already clear that the European continent, as well as the whole world in 2024, experienced the highest average temperature since the start of the records. According to WMO, this temperature was 1.55 degrees worldwide above the industrial level (1850-1900) in 2024. In Europe it was plus 2.92 degrees, as Copernicus reported.

Why is it the fastest warmer in Europe
Europe is the continent that warms up the fastest. Copernicus gives various reasons for this:

• The high part of the arctic areas of the country, which heat up faster than all other areas of the earth
• The change in atmospheric circuit, the summer heat waves favored
• The decline of aerosols – these are small particles in the air that can reflect sunlight and therefore prevent heat

West and Eastern Europe very different
There are major differences between the regions in the climate. There is a pronounced contrast in the west with “dry, sunny and extremely warm conditions in the east and cloudy, moist and less warm conditions in the west”, Copernicus and WMO report.

West -Europe experienced one of the ten wet years in the period since 1950. Accordingly, the rivers led more water there than on the long -term average. In Eastern Europe, on the other hand, they led considerably less water due to extreme drought.

More floods
Extreme rainfall and floods were just as pronounced since 2013 no longer. They led to the disaster in the Spanish province of Valencia and the surrounding area in October with more than 200 dead. In September, Sturm Boris brought heavy rainfall and floods in parts of Germany, as well as Poland, Austria, Hungary and neighboring countries.

Tropy -Stays up
“Hitzestress days and tropical nights are increasing in Europe,” says the report. In Southeastern Europe there was the longest heat wave and a record number of 23 tropical nights on 13 days. The temperature does not fall below 20 degrees at night.

Reduce the output of Tribhaus gases
To contain climate changes, the emission of climate -acting greenhouse gases must be reduced. WMO Secretary -General Celeste Saulo knows: “Every extra fraction of a degree when the temperature rise is important because this increases the risks of our lives, our economy and our planets.”