Welcome to the second volume of our European climate change Special Focus Publications, exploring how Europe is confronting the climate crisis through cutting-edge science, breakthrough technologies, and transformative policies to build a more resilient future.
The impacts of climate change are no longer a distant threat – they are Europe’s present reality. Nowhere else on Earth is warming as rapidly as Europe. From the shrinking glaciers of the Alps to the flooded streets of Western cities and drought-parched farmlands in the East, climate change is already reshaping our landscapes, economies, and daily lives.
Yet even as the risks mount, so too does our ability to understand and respond. We now have unprecedented tools at our disposal – satellites delivering real-time climate data, scientists mapping environmental change with greater precision, and policymakers driving transformative reforms. Across the continent, new alliances are forming, bridging science, technology, governance, and public awareness to meet the moment with innovation and resolve.
This Special Focus Publication brings together diverse and insightful perspectives on Europe’s evolving climate challenge. Through cutting-edge research, ambitious policy, and breakthrough technologies, the articles offer a clear-eyed view of where we stand and how we can move forward.
Europe’s climate crisis: A clear and present challenge
In 2024, Europe experienced its hottest year on record, as confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The consequences were stark: widespread droughts in the East, devastating floods in the West, and more than 400,000 people directly affected by extreme weather events. Glaciers are retreating at an alarming pace. Health systems are stretched by rising cases of heat stress. The climate crisis is no longer abstract – it touches every sector, from agriculture and water security to energy, health, and infrastructure.
But this is not a story of decline. It is a story of action. Across Europe, climate response is accelerating. The European Green Deal is reshaping economies. Renewable energy investment is surging. Monitoring systems are tracking environmental change with greater clarity than ever before. These efforts are laying the foundation for a more resilient and sustainable future.
Scientific insight: Understanding the climate shift
The publication begins with an in-depth analysis by climate scientist Rebecca Emerton of C3S, exploring key findings from the 2024 European State of the Climate (ESOTC) report. Europe is currently around 2.5°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, more than any other continent. The report attributes this trend to factors including Europe’s proximity to the Arctic, declining aerosol emissions, and shifting atmospheric circulation.
New indicators such as ‘tropical nights’ – warm nights that prevent recovery from heat – help quantify climate stress, especially in urban environments. Other highlights include growing attention to lake temperatures, glacier melt, and the emerging East-West weather divide. These findings not only underline the urgency of climate action but also provide the scientific basis for targeted, evidence-based responses across sectors.
Technological solutions: RSS-Hydro innovations on the frontlines
The second article showcases the work of RSS-Hydro and highlights the transformative role of Earth Observation (EO), artificial intelligence, and high-speed data processing in climate response. Tools like FloodPin, an all-in-one satellite flood monitoring system, demonstrate how near-real-time data can revolutionise disaster preparedness and response. AI-enabled satellites can now assess damage from floods and wildfires within minutes, not days.
Beyond emergencies, EO technologies are also critical to long-term planning, informing decisions in urban development, infrastructure resilience, and environmental management. This article shows that technology is more than a tool – it is a cornerstone of Europe’s climate resilience, offering scalable, efficient, and sustainable solutions.
Policy and progress: Driving just transitions
The final piece comes from Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA), who places Europe’s climate response within the broader context of today’s interconnected ‘polycrisis’ – where environmental, economic, and geopolitical challenges converge.
The article highlights important progress: since 1990, EU emissions have fallen by 37%, protected areas have expanded, and air quality improvements are saving lives. Still, gaps remain, especially in sectors like transport, agriculture, and consumption.
Crucially, Ylä-Mononen stresses that the climate transition must be fair and inclusive. Investments must prioritise vulnerable communities, and no one must be left behind. Climate justice is not a luxury – it is essential to building sustainable resilience.
A roadmap for a resilient Europe
This publication is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. It offers a multidimensional view of how Europe is experiencing, responding to, and preparing for climate change. By uniting science, technology, and policy, it underscores the strength of a comprehensive approach.
As citizens, researchers, leaders, and communities, we must act together, leveraging every available tool to build a climate-resilient Europe. The path forward will be complex, but as these pages make clear, we are not powerless. The tools, knowledge, and momentum are already in our hands.
