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🗞️ Driving the news: The latest European State of the Climate report for 2023 documents an extreme year of weather in Europe, with significant occurrences of droughts, wildfires, floods, and record heat
• It highlights the continent's continuing struggle with climate change impacts, showcasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events
🔭 The context: The report, authored by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation, notes that Europe has seen the warmest years on record since 2007, with a marked increase in extreme weather phenomena
• This trend underscores a global climate system heavily influenced by ongoing high levels of greenhouse gas emissions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The escalation of extreme weather events in Europe is a direct indicator of the broader global climate crisis
• The rapid melting of alpine glaciers, increased wildfire activity, and the rising incidence of heatwaves and flooding reflect severe environmental destabilization, which has profound implications for biodiversity, human health, and economic stability
⏭️ What's next: With ongoing increases in renewable energy generation and a push towards net-zero emissions, Europe is making strides towards mitigating climate change
• However, the report warns that until significant reductions in greenhouse gases are achieved globally, extreme weather events are likely to continue and possibly intensify
💬 One quote: "The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our generation. The cost of climate action may seem high, but the cost of inaction is much higher" — Celeste Saulo, WMO secretary general.
📈 One stat: In 2023, weather and climate-related events in Europe resulted in approximately €13.4 billion ($14.3 billion) in damages, over 80% of which were linked to flooding.
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