Brussels, Belgium. Wildfires burned more than one million hectares across Europe in 2025, the biggest annual total on record, as the continent set climate records for heat, sea temperatures and drought, the World Meteorological Organisation and EU scientists said.
At least 95% of Europe recorded above-average temperatures during the year, according to the WMO and the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Record heat and drought across the region
Europe’s overall sea surface temperature reached an annual record high, and 86% of the region experienced strong marine heatwaves, the report said. More than half of Europe was affected by drought conditions in May 2025, and the year was one of the three driest for soil moisture since 1992.
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, said the report showed climate change is a present reality. “The pace of climate change demands more urgent action,” she said.
Policy debate over emissions measures
The findings come as some governments seek to weaken emissions-cutting policies over economic concerns. The European Union has said it will stick to its green goals but weakened some climate rules for cars and companies last year after pressure from industry.
Concerns in Europe’s coldest regions
The WMO and Copernicus also raised concern about changes in Europe’s coldest regions, where snow and ice cover helps slow climate change by reflecting sunlight back into space, a phenomenon known as the albedo effect. Warmer temperatures that increase melting reduce this effect and contribute to sea level rise.
Sub-Arctic Norway, Sweden and Finland experienced their heaviest heatwave on record last July, lasting three consecutive weeks, with temperatures inside the Arctic Circle exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Iceland recorded its second-largest glacier loss since records began, the report said.
What measures do you think governments should prioritise to address rising wildfire and heat risks in Europe?
