According to recent United Nations figures, the ten nations with the most significant rises in temperatures are all located in Europe.
All of these European countries, such as Switzerland and Ukraine, saw 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 for ten consecutive years, up until 2023, the group of 15 nations with the most significant temperature increases also comprised solely European countries.
How quickly is Europe heating up relative to the rest of the globe?
Based on the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data regarding changes in land temperatures, the average yearly increase in global land temperature was recorded at 1.8°C higher than the 1951–1980 reference point in 2023.
This represents the most significant increase in temperatures documented so far. Moreover, it’s even more alarming that the past nine years, beginning from 2015, have seen the hottest average global temperatures on record.
The highest temperature increase was observed in Europe, where the mercury climbed by 2.4°C. This represents the seventh occasion within the last nine years that regional temperatures have exceeded 2°C.
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 only 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 yearly stats for smaller areas, due to the impact of internal variability," 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 all saw temperature increases surpassing 2.7°C relative to the 1951-1980 baseline.
Within the European Union, both Romania and Slovenia experienced the largest increase in yearly temperatures, amounting to 2.62°C.
Out of 49 countries and territories in Europe, 27 made it into the top 30 list for the most significant temperature rises. Included in this group are 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 significantly quicker compared to most other areas around the world.
Francesco N. Tubiello, who serves as a senior statistician and team leader at FAO’s Environment Statistics Unit, points out that this situation arises due to Europe (encompassing Russia within its total figures) having the most extensive land area located at northerly latitudes.
Which European nations remained more temperate in 2023?
Iceland And notably, the Faroe Islands stood out in Europe as they experienced the lowest warming in 2023, with temperatures rising less than 0.65°C.
Norway, Sweden, and the UK came next with the least increase in temperatures, showing an annual rise 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 stretching into northerly (Arctic) areas usually demonstrate a more significant rise in temperatures," he explains.
Rebecca Emerton, a climate scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), points out 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?
Experts stress the significance of analyzing long-term patterns, so we computed the decadal mean for 2014-2023, which represents the latest complete ten years of data. Throughout this timeframe, the leading 15 nations and regions experiencing the steepest rise in temperatures are also found within Europe.
" Europe has been heating up at a rate double that of the global average, making it the quickest-warming continent globally," according to Emerton.
"The Arctic is warming at the quickest rate," she says. According to Copernicus's 2023 European State of the Climate report. report examines the factors behind this, such as the percentage of land in the Arctic region and alterations in air currents that lead to more common summertime heat waves.
The ESOTC utilizes the 1991-2020 baseline; however, it doesn’t provide temperature variations data for individual countries.
"Due to Arctic amplification, northern areas tend to heat up faster than the global average, and numerous European nations are situated quite far north," Sippel clarifies.
The Arctic is experiencing much more rapid warming compared to the global average. This occurrence, known as Arctic amplification It is fueled 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.
"European countries tend to be smaller compared to those elsewhere, and this means they're more prone to experiencing significant fluctuations in temperature. This occurs because temperature variations aren’t smoothed out across such vast regions," explains Lamboll.
Erik Kjellström, who is a professor at 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.
" Europe has simultaneously reduced its aerosol emissions, often referred to as smog. While this leads to cleaner air, these particles previously helped block sunlight temporarily. Consequently, areas with decreased historical smog experience extra warming," according to Lamboll.
The quickest temperature increase in European nations within ten years
The 10-year average highlights Svalbard (Norway) as an exceptional anomaly, with a significant 3.44°C rise in temperature relative to the 1951-1980 baseline. This leap surpasses all other regions considerably.
Daniela Schmidt, a professor at the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences, points out that regions closer to the equator experience less warming, whereas areas nearer the poles see greater warmth (a phenomenon known as polar amplification). "Consequently, we observe increased heating toward 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) stand out as some of the regions experiencing the most rapid temperature hikes, placing Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries at the forefront of climate change impacts.
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 (demonstrating a change of 2.16°C) show pronounced trends. Meanwhile, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have each seen their average temperatures climb above 2°C when compared to the baseline period from 1951 to 1980.
In contrast to northern and eastern parts of Europe, Southern Europe and regions around the Mediterranean are experiencing a more gradual increase in temperature. The countries showing these trends include: Italy with an increase of 1.81°C, Spain at 1.78°C, Portugal at 1.65°C, Turkey at 1.59°C, and Greece at 1.29°C.
"The Earth’s surface has experienced greater warming compared to the oceans. This occurs because oceans can store heat within their depths and require considerable time to become warmer, while the shallower regions of land absorb heat much faster," explains Lamboll.
Among European nations, Iceland has experienced the smallest increase in temperatures, remaining slightly under 1°C warmer. 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 mean temperature levels.
FAO's information relies on the Global Surface Temperature Change provided by NASA-GISS.
