The European observatory unveils its annual report on the state of the climate in Europe on Monday. Observation: temperatures and flooding above average.
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The year 2023 was “very contrasting” in Europe, with extraordinary droughts and floods. This is the conclusion of the Copernicus annual report. The observatory highlights on the one hand temperatures above average 11 months out of 12, seas and oceans which are warming, and massive vegetation fires, in Greece in particular. The three hottest years ever measured in Europe took place after 2020, the report also specifies.
On the other hand, Copernicus speaks of a wet 2023 with more frequent than average precipitation and devastating floods like in Pas-de-Calais. The flow rates of European rivers indeed reached records in December.
A cost estimated at more than 13 billion euros
In total, these floods affected nearly two million Europeans and are responsible for 80% of the economic losses linked to natural disasters. More generally, losses linked to climatic events are estimated at more than 13 billion euros and have caused more than 140 victims: 63 deaths linked to storms, 44 deaths linked to floods and 44 deaths linked to fires.
Faced with this situation, Copernicus believes that these risks must be better taken into account. The observatory therefore welcomes the European office of the World Health Organization which now considers the climate crisis as a public health emergency.
