Heat-trapping pollutants that clog the atmosphere helped push temperatures in Europe last year to the highest or second-highest levels recorded, according to the EU's Earthwatching service Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Europeans suffered with unprecedented heat during the day and were stressed by uncomfortable warmth at night. There are 30% more heatrelated deaths in Europe than two decades ago, the report found.
"The cost of climate action may seem high," said the WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo, "but the cost of inaction is much higher."
The report found that temperatures across Europe were above average for 11 months of 2023, including the warmest September since records began.
The hot and dry weather caused large fires that ravaged villages and spewed smoke that choked far-off cities. Fires were particularly fierce in drought-hit southern countries such as Portugal, Spain and Italy.
Greece was hit by the largest wildfire ever recorded in the EU, which burned 96,000 hectares (237,000 acres) of land, according to the report.
Heavy rain also led to deadly floods. Europe was about 7% wetter in 2023 than the average over the past three decades, the report found, and one-third of its river network crossed the "high" flood threshold. One-sixth hit "severe" levels.
Carlo Buontempo, the director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said: "In 2023, Europe witnessed the largest wildfire ever recorded, one of the wettest years, severe marine heatwaves and widespread devastating flooding. Temperatures continue to increase, making our data ever more vital in preparing for the impacts of climate change."
The role of global heating in increasingly heavy rainfall is not always clear. Warmer air can hold more moisture, allowing for more extreme storms, but complex climatic changes mean that water is not always available to fall.
The report did not give figures for the death toll from heat in 2023 but scientists say there were 70,000 extra deaths for 2022.
The number of heat-related deaths in 2023 is li...
Europeans suffered with unprecedented heat during the day and were stressed by uncomfortable warmth at night. There are 30% more heatrelated deaths in Europe than two decades ago, the report found.
"The cost of climate action may seem high," said the WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo, "but the cost of inaction is much higher."
The report found that temperatures across Europe were above average for 11 months of 2023, including the warmest September since records began.
The hot and dry weather caused large fires that ravaged villages and spewed smoke that choked far-off cities. Fires were particularly fierce in drought-hit southern countries such as Portugal, Spain and Italy.
Greece was hit by the largest wildfire ever recorded in the EU, which burned 96,000 hectares (237,000 acres) of land, according to the report.
Heavy rain also led to deadly floods. Europe was about 7% wetter in 2023 than the average over the past three decades, the report found, and one-third of its river network crossed the "high" flood threshold. One-sixth hit "severe" levels.
Carlo Buontempo, the director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said: "In 2023, Europe witnessed the largest wildfire ever recorded, one of the wettest years, severe marine heatwaves and widespread devastating flooding. Temperatures continue to increase, making our data ever more vital in preparing for the impacts of climate change."
The role of global heating in increasingly heavy rainfall is not always clear. Warmer air can hold more moisture, allowing for more extreme storms, but complex climatic changes mean that water is not always available to fall.
The report did not give figures for the death toll from heat in 2023 but scientists say there were 70,000 extra deaths for 2022.
The number of heat-related deaths in 2023 is li...
You're reading a preview of
The Guardian (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 22, 2024