In the words of Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, "The climate crisis presents the greatest challenge of our generation. While the cost of climate action may seem high, the cost of inaction is far greater." Recent events underscore the urgency of addressing climate change, with Mali in Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing devastating heatwaves resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives, particularly among the elderly. The year 2023 has been marked as one of Europe's most challenging years, with widespread media coverage documenting severe climate changes affecting countries such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Norway.
A joint report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted various record-setting climatic events across Europe, including an unprecedented number of days with 'extreme heat stress,' widespread areas affected by 'strong heat stress,' and the largest wildfire recorded. These events resulted in significant economic losses, estimated at 13.4 billion euros, with a substantial portion attributed to flooding, affecting approximately 1.6 million individuals.
The release of the European State of the Climate (ESOTC) report for 2023 by C3S and the WMO provides detailed descriptions and analyses of climate conditions, key events, impacts, and discussions on climate policy and action, with a focus on human health. To raise awareness and encourage action against climate change, readers are urged to stay informed by accessing the full report on Copernicus Climate Change Service .
