Europe's climate extremes have hit new highs — but renewables are now supplying nearly half of the continent's electricity.
Virtually no part of Europe was left untouched by extreme weather and hotter temperatures in 2025. The continent endured unprecedented heatwaves, experienced its largest wildfire and recorded its hottest-ever sea surface temperatures.
Those are the key findings of the European State of the Climate 2025 report, published annually by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization.
"The pace of climate change demands more urgent action," said Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. "With rising temperatures, and widespread wildfires and drought, the evidence is unequivocal; climate change is not a future threat, it is our present reality."
At least 95% of Europe saw above-average annual temperatures, with the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland each measuring their warmest year ever. The continent was hit by several heatwaves, one of which lasted for 25 days and affected multiple countries.
