What to Know About Record Levels of Heat Stress Impacting Europe
A new report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has revealed that Europe is experiencing record levels of extreme heat stress, posing serious risks to public health and safety. Extreme heat stress occurs when the body cannot effectively release excess heat, leading to increased heart rate and rising core body temperature.
The European State of the Climate 2023 report found that Europe had consistently high temperatures throughout the year, with the warmest September on record in 2023. The report also highlighted a growing number of days with extreme heat stress, defined as days with a temperature that feels higher than 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
As a result of the increasing heat stress, heat-related deaths in Europe have surged by an estimated 94% over the past 20 years. The findings also showed an increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, with 23 of the 30 most severe heat waves in Europe occurring since 2000, including five in the past three years alone.
The report also documented other extreme events linked to climate change in Europe during 2023, including the largest wildfire ever recorded in the region, severe marine heat waves, and widespread flooding. Additionally, Europe experienced a loss of about 10% of its remaining glacier volume in the Alps and a decrease in the number of snow days in some areas.
Globally, last month was the warmest March on record, marking 10 consecutive months of unprecedented heat as greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from fossil fuels, continued to raise temperatures. The surface temperature of the world’s oceans, which absorb 90% of the excess heat from emissions, also reached a new peak, according to Europe's climate monitoring agency.
Despite these concerning findings, the report also noted positive developments in renewable energy generation. Europe achieved a record 43% proportion of renewable electricity generation, thanks in part to increased wind power production and higher-than-usual solar energy generation.
