Key Facts

• Europe is about 2.4°C warmer than before industrial times (1850-1900), while the global average increase is around 1.4°C.
• A "heat dome," or trapped warm air from northern Africa, caused unusually high temperatures in western Europe.
• High-pressure weather systems, which bring hot and stable air, have become more common in Europe during summer.
• It is still unclear if these high-pressure systems are caused by climate change or natural variation.
• The Arctic region near Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world, about 3.2°C above preindustrial levels.
• Melting ice and snow in the Arctic exposes darker surfaces that absorb more heat, leading to more warming.
• Many parts of Europe now experience fewer freezing days, exposing more land instead of snow.
• Human emissions from burning fossil fuels are the main driver of this increased heat.