European waters recorded their hottest summer months since satellite observations began in 1982, with average sea-surface temperatures reaching 21.6°C between June and August. Record temperatures were reported from the English Channel to the Mediterranean, while waters near Mallorca reached 33.02°C on August 5, the highest recorded by Spain’s port authority buoy network.
Spain is facing mounting climate-related pressures, with severe wildfires, rising temperatures, droughts and floods affecting communities and the economy. Around 300,000 hectares of land have been burned in Spain this year, while farmers in affected regions have suffered major losses to livestock, crops and pasture. Rising temperatures are also affecting Spain’s tourism
Global food prices climbed to their highest level since late 2022 in August, driven by extreme weather, geopolitical tensions and growing concerns over agricultural supplies, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index averaged 133.3 points, up from a revised 130.8 in July, marking the highest reading since […]
France has announced more than €1 billion in financial support for farmers affected by record heatwaves and droughts this summer. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said the package is a major effort given the country’s tight budget situation, with €520 million to be distributed through rapid payments to help cover weather-related losses. France’s main farmers’ union,
Climate change is putting increasing pressure on maize production across central and eastern Europe, with repeated droughts, heatwaves and water shortages reducing crop yields. The impact is particularly severe in Hungary and Romania, where maize acreage has fallen sharply. Hungary, once a major exporter, is expected to import maize this year, while Romania’s exportable
Serbia’s Deliblatska Pescara reserve is facing difficult choices after a major wildfire damaged large areas of its unique dunes and woodlands. Foresters are now working on a long-term restoration plan, while considering how to make the landscape more resilient as hotter and drier conditions increase the risk of future fires. Experts say the recovery could […]
France has recorded 301 drowning deaths since 19 June, a 14% increase from the same period last year, according to Sports and Youth Minister Marina Ferrari. She linked the rise to prolonged heatwaves that have pushed people toward rivers, canals and other bodies of water to cool down. Ferrari warned that many fatal incidents occurred […]
Giant whales are increasingly moving into previously inaccessible waters along Greenland’s east coast as rising temperatures cause sea ice to disappear. A decades-long study found that fin, humpback and minke whales are now feeding in ice-free coastal waters during summer, marking a major shift in the region’s marine ecosystem. Researchers recorded a sharp rise in […]
Rainfall brought relief to firefighters battling Belgium’s largest wildfire on record in the High Fens nature reserve. The fire, which has burned around 3,000 hectares, was partly contained on Monday and was no longer spreading towards the German border as cooler temperatures and increased humidity helped slow its advance. The wildfire is part of a […]
Europe’s increasingly frequent heatwaves are causing major financial losses for businesses, while traditional business interruption insurance often fails to cover the disruption. In Italy’s Padua, hospitality businesses have seen customers avoid outdoor dining during peak heat, with more than 80% of surveyed businesses reporting turnover declines of around 20%. The









