This extreme heat stress, exacerbated by heat-trapping pollutants, has led to an increase in heat-related deaths, with the European death rate rising by 30% over the past two decades.

The EU's Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that Europe has endured more days of extreme heat than ever before.

The combination of intense daytime heat and uncomfortable nighttime warmth is causing significant health issues for Europeans.

The WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo emphasized that the cost of taking action against climate change is less than the cost of inaction.

In 2023, Europe experienced unusually high temperatures for 11 months, resulting in severe wildfires and deadly floods.

The hot and dry weather caused large fires in southern countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece, which ravaged villages and choked distant cities with smoke.

Greece suffered the largest wildfire in EU history, burning 96,000 hectares of land.

Heavy rain also led to deadly floods.

The report underscores the need for urgent climate action to mitigate the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

In 2023, Europe experienced unusually heavy rainfall, making it 7% wetter than the average of the last three decades.

As a result, one-third of Europe's rivers exceeded the "high" flood threshold, and one-sixth reached "severe" levels.

Additionally, Europe witnessed its largest wildfire on record, severe marine heatwaves, and devastating flooding.

Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus climate change service, stated that temperatures are continuing to rise, emphasizing the importance of climate data in preparing for the impacts of climate change.