Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that extreme heatwaves and wildfires are becoming recurring features of the continent's summers.
Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that extreme heatwaves and wildfires are becoming recurring features of the continent's summers. High temperatures, once considered exceptional, are now becoming the norm as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. In parts of France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, daily average temperatures were more than 10C above the norm in late May and June. These shifts are reshaping ecosystems, economies, and daily life. Prolonged droughts and shrinking rivers, such as the Rhine and Danube, disrupt shipping and hydroelectric power. Agriculture is also heavily impacted, with a study by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission projecting a 66 percent increase in annual agricultural losses by 2050. The financial impact is significant, with the European Environment Agency estimating that extreme weather has already cost Europe 738 billion euros from 1980 to 2023. Economists argue that investing in climate resilience now is more cost-effective than repeatedly paying for disaster recovery.