A Year of Devastation and Urgent Need for Adaptation

In 2024, Europe experienced its most extensive flooding since 2013, with a significant portion of the continent's river network affected. This extreme weather was attributed to climate change, driven by the use of fossil fuels, which led to torrential rain and other severe weather events.

The floods resulted in the loss of at least 335 lives and impacted over 410,000 people across Europe. Western Europe was particularly hard hit, with 2024 ranking among the wettest years on record for the region. The economic damage caused by storms and flooding exceeded €18 billion.

Globally, 2024 was the warmest year on record, and Europe experienced the most significant warming of any continent. The planet is now approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer than before the industrial era, primarily due to human-caused climate change.

While there were some positive developments, such as a record-high share of renewable energy in Europe's energy mix and adaptation plans in many cities, extreme weather events were widespread. Southeastern Europe faced its longest heat wave on record, Scandinavia's glaciers shrank at unprecedented rates, and heat stress increased across the continent.

Eastern Europe suffered from drought, while western Europe was ravaged by floods. A substantial portion of Europe's river network exceeded high flood thresholds, with a significant percentage breaching severe flood levels.

The devastating floods in Valencia in late October accounted for the majority of the lives lost and economic damage caused by floods in Europe. Scientists have confirmed that climate change has made such heavy downpours more likely due to a warmer atmosphere's capacity to hold more water. Other factors, such as river management and urban planning, also play a role in the impact of flooding.