EU’s Copernicus satellite captures image of nitrogen dioxide over Athens, exposing elevated air pollution levels in Greece and the Mediterranean.

"Rapid ocean warming, acidification, sea level rise, and plastics currently affect all ocean basins", including the Mediterranean Sea - OSR9

Compared to measurements dating back to 1940, unusually high temperatures were observed in parts of Europe—particularly the Nordic countries, Eastern Europe, and from the Baltic states to the Balkans.

Across Europe, August’s heat was relentless. Spain endured a record 16-day heatwave, the longest in its history, which health officials estimate contributed to more than 1,100 excess deaths.

These projections align with a broader trend across Europe, where above-average temperatures are expected continent-wide

While the global temperature in May slipped slightly below the symbolic 1.5°C rise compared to pre-industrial levels, it still reached an average of 15.79°C.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service's 2024 report shows the continent is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world

Global temperature reached a record 13.23°C, 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1991-2020 baseline by 0.79°C, says Copernicus

In other words, it has surpassed the 1.5°C threshold, the target of the Paris Agreement signed in 2015, aiming to limit the temperature rise below 2°C.

Limnes Vistonis, a 18,000-hectare Natura 2000 wetland in Greece, supports 144 waterbird and raptor species, vital for breeding, migration, and wintering.

For the first time, global temperature increases are anticipated to surpass the 1.5°C threshold, compared to the pre-industrial levels.

The west coast of Greece experienced increased precipitation from Storm Boris in September 2024, but this was not felt by the rest of the country, where regions are still recovering from a dry summer.