2025 Report: Europe Saw Record Marine Heat, Wildfires Burning 1 Million Hectares, and Major Glacier Loss

Europe stands as the world's fastest-warming continent, with 2025 marked by record-high marine temperatures, widespread wildfires, and significant glacier loss, according to a joint report from the World Meteorological Organization and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

The report, published on 29 April 2026, highlights that nearly all of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures last year. Hot and dry conditions fueled wildfires that burned more than 1 million hectares of land, an area roughly the size of Cyprus.

About 70 percent of European rivers recorded below-average annual flows. Strong marine heatwaves occurred across much of the continent, spiking in Atlantic Ocean waters near the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland, as well as in several spots around the Mediterranean. Sub-Arctic Norway, Sweden, and Finland endured a 21-day heatwave in July 2025, the worst on record for those countries.

Temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and higher around the Arctic Circle during that period. 32 million square kilometres, equivalent to 509,655 square miles, in March 2025. This loss matches the territory spanning France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria combined.

Glacier loss was recorded across Europe, with Iceland observing its second-largest loss on record. Drought conditions struck in May 2025, contributing to the wildfires that raged from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. The European continent is fast-warming, facing severe impacts from climate change, including heatwaves, wildfires, and shrinking ice cover.

A historic heatwave swept across Nordic countries, accompanied by record sea temperatures. Europe experienced record heat, glacier loss, and marine extremes, as detailed in the climate report. Metropolises are turning to green roofs to adapt to this rapidly warming world, boosting biodiversity and reducing temperatures and flooding.

“The [2025 report] paints a stark picture: The pace of climate change demands more urgent action,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF. “With rising temperatures, widespread wildfires and drought, the evidence is unequivocal; climate change is not a future threat, it is our present reality,” Burgess added.

“Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and the impacts are already severe.

Almost the whole region has seen above-average annual temperatures,” said Florian Pappenberger, director-general of the ECMWF, noting drought conditions in May 2025. The report underscores that 2025 included record-high marine temperatures.

Europe is named the world's fastest warming continent.