In 2023, Europe faced extreme weather, including scorching Heatwaves, devastating floods, droughts, storms, and its largest wildfire. The Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned about the impact, reporting billions in damages and over two million people affected by these disasters.

Rising Heat Threat

A big part of these problems was the increasing danger of heat. Summers in Europe have been getting hotter because of global warming. There were lots of days where the heat was extreme, with temperatures going above 46 degrees Celsius. This puts people at serious risk of health issues like heat stroke.

Prolonged Hot spell

Even though 2023 wasn’t the hottest summer ever, it still had long periods of scorching heat from June to September. September, in particular, was the warmest it’s ever been. Cities felt it the most, especially vulnerable groups like older people who were at higher risk.

Deadly Consequences

Heat-related deaths have gone up by roughly 30 percent in the last twenty years. In the 21st century, Europe has seen 23 of its 30 worst hot spell. While we don’t have exact numbers for 2023, previous super hot summers saw tens of thousands of people die.

Climate Change Culprit

Scientists say that these extreme events are caused by greenhouse gas emissions, which are heating up the planet fast. Europe is warming up twice as quickly as the rest of the world. This means that hot spell are getting longer and more intense. And with more old people and cities getting bigger, the problem is even worse.

Other Climate Chaos

Besides the scorching heat, Europe faced other challenges like record-high sea temperatures, severe marine hot spell, melting glacier ice, and widespread flooding. These problems cost a huge amount of money, around 13.4 billion euros.

Glimmers of Hope

Despite all the chaos, there were some positive signs. Europe saw a big increase in renewable energy production, especially from wind and hydroelectric sources. Good weather conditions helped with this.

Challenges Ahead

However, there are still challenges to deal with. There were fewer days with snow, which caused a lot of ice to melt in the Alps. Meanwhile, the Arctic stayed unusually warm, which led to less sea ice and more dangerous wildfires.

A Call to Action

The chaotic year of 2023 showed us how important it is for the world to take action against climate change. We need to find ways to reduce its effects and get ready for them, with heat being a major concern.