The joint study by the Climate Change Monitoring Service of the European Union's Copernicus Earth observation programme (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) considers that this record reflects Europe's efforts to achieve the objective of a decarbonised energy system.

Carrying out an energy transition, by shifting the energy system towards renewable sources (such as sun, wind, rain, tides and geothermal energy) instead of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal), makes it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, one of the main purposes of the European Green Deal.

Regarding what is being done to address climate challenges and combat climate change, the report also indicates that the number of European Union countries where renewable energy generates more electricity than fossil fuels has almost doubled since 2019, increasing from 12 to 20.

The authors of the study also consider that it represents an “encouraging development” that 51% of European cities will have special climate adaptation plans in place by 2024, compared to 26% in 2018.

To better resist heat waves, Paris has decided to “plant trees and revitalise parks to increase cooling and biodiversity”, in line with Milan (Italy), which has invested in afforestation measures, increased climate shelters and the promotion of green infrastructure, also to combat air pollution.

“Implementing early warning systems, community-led flood resilience initiatives and flood-resilient infrastructure” were the options followed in Glasgow (UK) to tackle major floods, while the Slovak capital Bratislava chose to create water reservoirs as well as “rainwater gardens and green roofs”.

In 2024, the hottest year on record, global warming exceeded 1.5 °C (degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels for the first time, a limit set in the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.

According to the report, in Europe extreme weather events caused losses estimated at 18.2 billion euros in 2024. Storms, floods and wildfires have caused at least 335 deaths and affected an estimated 455,000 people.