European climate targets may require fortification due to current climate conditions

Europe Faces Worsening Climate Impacts, According to New Report

The European State of the Climate report, published by the EU and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has issued a stark warning about the state of the climate in Europe. The report highlights that Europe is continuing to warm, with last year (2023) being the hottest on record, making it the fastest-warming continent.

The report underscores the worsening climate impacts in Europe, with intense flooding, significant ice loss, and increased rainfall in Western regions last year. In fact, almost one-third of Europe's river network exceeded the 'high' flood threshold last year. The most widespread flooding since 2013 was also highlighted in the report from 2024.

The European Commission is planning to propose a 90% target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040, but some media reports suggest that there may be more "flexibility" (loopholes) with this figure. The European Parliament's ENVI Committee, however, has shown a "drought of ambition" in a recent vote on its own-initiative report regarding the upcoming Water Resilience Strategy and Climate Adaptation Plan.

The EU Commissioner expects the completion of the EU Water Resilience Strategy, which was presented by the European Commission in early June 2025, aiming for implementation and improvements in water efficiency and consumption reduction by 2030. The strategy is crucial for addressing the worsening climate impacts in Europe.

Codruta Savu, Water & Climate Adaptation Policy Officer at the WWF European Policy Office, emphasized the need for nature-based solutions in Europe's climate adaptation efforts. Michael Sicaud-Clyet, Climate Policy Officer at WWF EU, stated that the European Commission should not use international credits to reach the EU-wide climate targets.

The report also stresses the importance of Europe aiming for a 100% climate neutrality by 2040, as suggested by the WWF analysis. The European State of the Climate report is a call to action for Europe to take decisive steps to combat climate change and adapt to its worsening impacts.

European climate targets may require fortification due to current climate conditions