Glomma, Loire, Rhine: Which European rivers experienced record flooding in 2023?

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🗞️ Driving the news: A recent report by the EU’s climate agency Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) details significant increases in river flooding across Europe in 2023, with a third of rivers exceeding high flood thresholds and 16% breaching severe levels

🔭 The context: The report captures the climate crisis’s impact on Europe, highlighting heightened hydrological volatility
• It notes record levels and flooding in major river basins like the Rhine and Danube, driven by increased precipitation and climate change

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The flooding led to significant loss of life, economic damages, and environmental impacts
• It underscores the urgent need for enhanced flood defenses and climate action to mitigate future risks and capitalize on renewable energy opportunities like hydropower

⏭️ What's next: Given the ongoing and projected increase in severe weather events due to climate change, European nations are advised to bolster their infrastructure and adapt their environmental management strategies to handle extreme weather phenomena more effectively

💬 One quote: "In 2023, Europe witnessed the largest wildfire ever recorded, one of the wettest years, severe marine heatwaves and widespread devastating flooding," says Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)

📈 One stat: Floods claimed 44 lives in Europe last year, highlighting the deadly impact of extreme weather events.

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