The Old Continent is warming twice as fast as the global average, according to the latest Climate State report from Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
A Reality for Europe
In 2025, about 95% of the continent logged annual temperatures above the long-term average, with global warming around 2.5°C compared with the pre-industrial era. This steady rise has reduced the extent of Europe exposed to cold snaps and delivered a record number of days without cold stress. “This report once again shows that climate change is a reality for Europe, underscoring the importance of an independent, world-class Earth-observation system,” summarizes Andrius Kubilius, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Defence and Space.
“Copernicus provides the information we need to guide decisions that will shape a more resilient, more sustainable, and stronger Europe.” The year 2025 was marked by intense heat waves that stretched from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. One of the standout events was an unprecedented three-week heatwave in July across sub-Arctic Fennoscandia, where temperatures topped 30°C inside the Arctic Circle, making it the longest heatwave ever recorded in that region.
Between Marine Heatwaves, Water Deficits, and Fires
As this report notes, European waters reached their highest-ever average surface temperature, marking the fourth consecutive year of exceptional ocean warmth. Nearly 86% of the European marine region experienced marine heatwaves of at least “strong” intensity, profoundly affecting ecosystems and marine biodiversity.
Our continent also faced a major drought, with soil-moisture levels among the lowest since 1992. Consequently, 70% of rivers ran with below-normal flows. These hot, dry conditions fed a catastrophic wildfire season: more than one million hectares were burned, the largest area ever recorded in Europe.
Renewable Energy on the Rise
The climate conditions driven a substantial reduction in the cryosphere. By March 2025, snow cover extent was 31% below average, an area missing equivalent to the combined size of France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In addition, all European glaciers showed net mass loss, while the Greenland ice sheet shed nearly 139 billion tonnes of ice.
“Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, with significant implications for socio-economic well-being, as well as for ecosystems and biodiversity,” notes Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Despite the urgency and scale of the climate challenges, the report highlights the acceleration of the transition to clean energy in Europe. In 2025, renewables supplied nearly 46.4% of the continent’s total electricity, led by solar energy which reached a record 12.5% contribution, buoyed by above-average sunshine.
