France, May 2 -- The European State of the Climate report, published by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), shows last year was the third warmest on record.

The average air temperature was 1.47degC above pre-industrial levels - close behind 2024, which saw an average increase of 1.6degC, and 2023.

Europe (extending to Turkey and parts of Russia) has been warming twice as fast as the global average since 1980, at a rate of +0.56degC per decade since 1996 compared to +0.27degC.

In comparison, Africa is warming at an average of 0.36degC, Asia 0.46degC, North America 0.42degC, and Central and South America 0.27degC.

WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo noted that 2025 was ...