Europe, along with many other regions of the globe, is exposed to increasing impacts of climate change including record heatwaves on land and at sea and devastating wildfires.

Rapid warming is reducing snow and ice cover, while dangerously high air temperatures, drought, heatwaves and record ocean temperatures are affecting regions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.

The findings are released in the European State of the Climate (ESOTC) 2025 report that brings together the work of around 100 scientific contributors and provides a comprehensive overview of key changes in climate indicators for the world’s fastest warming continent, including cold environments, marine ecosystems, rivers and lakes, wildfire risk, and more. A wide range of graphics and visuals highlighting key findings from the data are being made available.

The key findings include evidence that at least 95 per cent of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures in 2025, with a record three-week heatwave that affected sub-Arctic Fennoscandia producing temperatures near to and within the Arctic Circle exceeding 30C.

Glaciers in all European regions saw a net mass loss, with Iceland recording its second-largest glacier loss on record; snow cover was 31 per cent below average and the Greenland Ice Sheet lost 139 billion tonnes of ice.

The annual sea surface temperature for the European region was the highest on record, and 86 per cent of the region experienced at least ‘strong’ marine heatwaves whilst wildfires burnt around 1,034,550 hectares, the largest area on record.

Storms and flooding affected thousands across Europe, though extreme rainfall and flooding were less widespread than in recent years.

"Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and the impacts are already severe. Almost the whole region has seen above-average annual temperatures. In 2025, sub‑Arctic Norway, Sweden and Finland recorded their worst heatwave on record with 21 straight days and temperatures exceeding 30C within the Arctic Circle itself. The 2025 report offers clear, actionable insights to support policy decisions and help the public better understand the changing climate we live in,” said Florian Pappenberger, director-general of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

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