Photo by Unsplash/Anasmeister Fires in Athens, Greece. Europe remains the fastest warming continent: new climate records are recorded in the region Climate and Environment
Europe faces widespread impacts from climate change, from dangerously high temperatures and prolonged droughts to massive wildfires and record ocean warming. These phenomena affect regions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. This is stated in the State of the Climate in Europe 2025 report, published on Tuesday, prepared by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The report’s authors emphasize that Europe remains the world’s fastest-warming continent.
At least 95 percent of the region’s territory in 2025 recorded temperatures above the annual average. At the same time, the areas of snow and ice cover are decreasing, and the consequences of climate change are increasingly affecting both ecosystems and human life.
Rapid warming in the cold regions of Europe
Climate change is particularly noticeable in the coldest regions of Europe, including the Arctic and the Alps, where the trend towards rapid warming continues. This is alarming because snow and ice play a critical role in slowing climate change by reflecting sunlight back into space (the so-called albedo effect).
For example, in March, snow cover in Europe was about 1.32 million square kilometers, or 31 percent, below average, equivalent to the total territories of France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. This figure was the third lowest since records began in 1983. In addition, all regions of Europe have recorded net glacier mass loss, with Iceland having the second highest glacier mass loss on record.
“Europe is the continent where warming is happening fastest, and its consequences are already severe,” said Florian Pappenberger, director general of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. According to him, the report contains concrete data that will help make political decisions and better understand ongoing climate change.
Record ocean warming
Another alarming trend is ocean warming. In 2025, the average annual sea surface temperature in the European region reached its highest level on record. Such record figures have been recorded for the fourth year in a row. The heatwave affected 86 percent of the European region’s waters, with 36 percent of the area experiencing “severe” or “extreme” conditions – the highest on record.
Wildfires in Europe
Hot and dry conditions also contributed to a record number of wildfires. In total, a record area of about 1,034,000 hectares burned in Europe. Spain was particularly hard hit, accounting for about half of the harmful emissions. Record emissions were also recorded in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany.
Threats to Biodiversity
Climate change is increasingly affecting biodiversity. Nature is under increasing pressure from shrinking and shifting habitats, disruption of seasonal cycles due to rising temperatures, and changes in precipitation patterns. The report provides examples of the impact of heatwaves on seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean, as well as the devastating impact of fires on peatlands.
Positive changes amid climate risks
At the same time, the report’s authors note positive changes. Thus, in 2025, renewable energy sources provided almost half of all electricity in Europe, and the share of solar energy reached a record 12.5 percent.
However, experts emphasize that Europe needs to accelerate measures to adapt to climate change and reduce its consequences to protect people, ecosystems and the region’s economy.