According to recent United Nations statistics, the leading ten nations witnessing the most significant rises in temperatures are all located in Europe.
All of these European countries, such as Switzerland and Ukraine, saw their temperatures climb more than 2.5°C above the 1951-1980 average in 2023.
The analysis of the decade-long average from 2014 to 2023 indicates that the 15 nations with the most significant temperature increases over this period also resided within Europe, extending beyond just the year 2023.
What is the rate at which Europe is warming relative to the rest of the globe?
Based on the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data concerning changes in land temperatures, the average yearly increase in global land temperature was recorded at 1.8°C higher than the 1951–1980 reference period in 2023.
This represents the greatest increase in temperatures observed to date. Moreover, it’s even more alarming that the past nine years, starting from 2015, have registered as the hottest on record.
The highest temperature increase was observed in Europe, where the mercury climbed by 2.4°C. This signifies that over the last nine years, regional temperatures have exceeded 2°C for an unprecedented seventh occasion.
The 1.5°C cap set by the Paris Agreement Was surpassed across all regions in 2023, with the exception of Oceania, where there was a rise of 0.9°C.
In which nations were the most significant rises in temperatures documented?
Out of 198 countries and 39 territories, Svalbard And in 2023, the Jan Mayen Islands in Norway stood out as they recorded the largest temperature rise globally, with an increase of 3.6°C.
"We shouldn't place too much importance on short-term temperature data, particularly annual stats for smaller areas, due to the impact of natural variations," says Sebastian Sippel, a professor specializing in climate attribution at the Leipzig Institute for Meteorology, speaking with Euronews Green.
Moldova, Ukraine Andorra, Switzerland, and Belarus each saw temperatures rise above 2.7°C when compared to the averages from 1951-1980.
Within the European Union, both Romania and Slovenia experienced the largest yearly increase in temperature, reaching 2.62°C.
Out of 49 countries and regions in Europe, 27 made it into the top 30 list for the most significant temperature rises. These include nations such as France with an increase of 2.59°C, Spain at 2.57°C, Russia at 2.53°C, and Germany at 2.44°C.
Warming was strongest in western and eastern Europe. Only three non-European countries made the top 30: Kazakhstan (2.58°C), Morocco (2.56°C) and Tunisia (2.4°C).
This indicates that Europe is heating up considerably quicker compared to the majority of other global regions.
Francesco N. Tubiello, a senior statistician and team leader at FAO’s Environment Statistics Unit, points out that this is due to Europe (whose totals encompass Russia) having the most extensive land area located at high northern latitudes.
Which European nations remained more temperate in 2023?
Iceland And notably, the Faroe Islands stood out in Europe as they witnessed the smallest increase in temperatures in 2023, recording rises of less than 0.65°C.
Norway, Sweden, and the UK were next with the least increase, showing yearly temperature hikes of 1.2°C to 1.5°C.
"Sippel notes that countries adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean generally exhibit a minor temperature change, whereas those extending into northern (Arctic) areas usually demonstrate a more significant rise in temperatures," he explains.
Rebecca Emerton, a climate scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), states that this variation can stem from various elements like atmospheric circulation patterns, oceanic impacts, and localized aspects including snow coverage, soil dampness, and geographic features.
10-year average: What explains Europe's rapid temperature increase?
As highlighted by experts, it’s crucial to analyze long-term patterns; hence, we computed the 10-year mean from 2014 through 2023—the latest complete decade accessible. Throughout these years, the leading 15 nations and regions experiencing the steepest rise in temperatures were also found within Europe.
" Europe has been heating up at a rate that is double the global average, making it the most rapidly warming continent globally," according to Emerton.
“She notes that the Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else.” The Copernicus 2023 European State of the Climate report states. report examines the factors behind this, such as the percentage of land in the Arctic region and alterations in atmospheric patterns that lead to more frequent summertime heat waves.
The ESOTC utilizes the 1991-2020 baseline; however, it doesn’t provide temperature variations data for individual countries.
Sippel points out that northern areas tend to experience warming at a rate higher than the global average because of Arctic amplification, and numerous European nations are situated quite far north.
The Arctic is experiencing much more rapid warming compared to the global average. This occurrence, known as Arctic amplification It is propelled by the reduction in sea ice, which increases the transfer of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere.
Dr. Robin Lamboll, a research fellow at Imperial College London, also highlights how the size of a country can influence temperature fluctuations.
"Europe tends to have smaller nations compared to other regions, and these smaller countries are more prone to encountering greater fluctuations in temperature. This occurs because temperature variations do not get averaged across such extensive areas," explains Lamboll.
Professor Erik Kjellström from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute proposes that the decrease in atmospheric aerosols might be one reason why Europe has experienced greater warming compared to many other regions globally.
" Europe has been addressing its aerosol emissions, commonly known as smog. While this leads to cleaner air, these pollutants previously helped block sunlight temporarily, causing a temporary cooling effect. Consequently, areas with historically higher levels of smog may experience more significant warming once these particles are reduced," according to Lamboll.
The quickest heating nations in Europe within ten years
The 10-year average reveals Svalbard (Norway) as an extreme outlier, experiencing a staggering 3.44°C temperature increase compared to the 1951-1980 baseline. This far exceeds any other region.
Daniela Schmidt, who teaches at the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, points out that temperatures rise less near the equator and increase more toward the poles (a phenomenon known as polar amplification). "This means we see greater warmth towards the poles," she notes. Svalbard ,” she says.
Belarus (2.29°C), Russia (2.27°C), Estonia (2.26°C), Latvia (2.24°C), and Lithuania (2.24°C) are experiencing some of the most rapid temperature rises, placing them amongst the quickest warming regions within Eastern Europe and the Baltics.
Central and Western Europe are experiencing rapid increases in temperatures as well. Countries such as Germany (with an increase of 2.14°C), Poland (showing a rise of 2.15°C), and Switzerland (exhibiting a change of 2.16°C) demonstrate significant trends. Meanwhile, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have each seen their mean temperatures climb above 2°C when contrasted with the baseline period from 1951 to 1980.
In comparison to Northern and Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and the Mediterranean regions are experiencing a more gradual increase in temperature. The countries showing these trends include: Italy with an increase of 1.81°C, Spain with 1.78°C, Portugal with 1.65°C, Turkey with 1.59°C, and Greece with 1.29°C.
"The land has become warmer compared to the sea. This occurs because the ocean can store heat within its depths and requires much longer periods to increase in temperature, while the surface areas of land tend to heat up rapidly," explains Lamboll.
Among European nations, Iceland has experienced the slightest increase in temperatures, remaining under a 1°C rise. Following closely behind are the United Kingdom at 1.28°C, the Isle of Man at 1.18°C, Ireland at 1.16°C, and the Faroe Islands at 1.06°C, all recording some of the lowest increases in their mean temperature levels.
FAO's information relies on the Global Surface Temperature Change provided by NASA-GISS.