Europe is fastest-warming continent, report finds

Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at a rate of 0.56°C per decade over the past 30 years, according to the European State of the Climate Report for 2025. This rate is more than double the global average of 0.27°C per decade and second only to the Arctic, which is warming at 0.75°C per decade. The report highlights widespread temperature increases across the continent, with at least 95% of Europe experiencing above-average temperatures last year and several northern countries recording their warmest or second warmest years on record. Notably, a three-week heatwave pushed temperatures above 30°C inside the Arctic Circle, while Europe endured its second most severe heatwave on record, affecting regions from southern Europe to the far north. The rapid warming is attributed to a complex interplay of factors including shifts in atmospheric circulation, increased solar radiation due to cleaner air, shrinking snow cover, and Europe's unique geography, which places cold Arctic regions close to warming zones. These elements combine to amplify the continent’s temperature rise. The report also documents significant environmental impacts: glaciers across Europe lost mass, with Iceland suffering some of the most severe declines, and snow cover in March was 31% below average. The Greenland Ice Sheet lost 139 billion tonnes of ice, surpassing the total ice volume of the European Alps’ glaciers. Sea surface temperatures in European waters reached record highs, with 86% of these seas experiencing strong marine heatwave conditions. These climatic changes are reshaping ecosystems and economies across Europe. Marine biodiversity is under threat, exemplified by the decline of Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass species vital to Mediterranean coastal ecosystems and fisheries. The report underscores Europe as a real-time example of accelerated climate change, illustrating the urgent need for societies to adapt and respond to rapidly evolving environmental conditions. The findings emphasize the continent’s vulnerability and the cascading consequences for its environment, economy, and ecosystems amid ongoing global warming.