Climate change shocks caused record levels of disruption and misery for millions in Europe in 2023 with widespread flooding and severe heatwaves – a new normal which countries must adapt to as a priority, the UN weather agency said on Monday.
New data published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed fears that 2023 was "the joint warmest or second warmest year on record" in Europe.
In practical terms, this led to a record number of days with “extreme heat stress” across Europe, “an increasing trend” in the number of “strong heat stress” days on the continent and an “extended summer” from June to September, marked by heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and flooding.
“2023 was the joint warmest or second warmest year on record depending on the dataset,” WMO said. “Heat-related mortality has increased by around 30 per cent in the past 20 years, and heat-related deaths are estimated to have increased in 94 per cent of the European regions monitored.”
