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Temperatures across Europe are rising at twice the global average. This alarming trend is leading to more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods and storms.

But isn't just about . It damages , plus people's resilience and prosperity, meaning the European way of life is at risk.

The latest information from the shows that while progress is being made, the state of the environment is deteriorating. Europe is the and major economic and social losses from climate-related events are mounting—with more than €738 billion (£643 billion) in losses from 1980–2023, and over €162 billion from the last three years.

Adaptation (action required for societies to adjust to the adverse effects of climate change) is needed but lagging behind the escalating risk due to inconsistent and under-resourced approaches. As a result, ecosystem and societal resilience are undermined.

Healthy ecosystems underpin sustainable living by ensuring food and water security, and providing .

For people living in Europe, the effects are already visible and personal. People are increasingly exposed to disease, pollution, and even premature death due to extreme weather. Homes and communities face destruction. In 2025, extreme weather has included extensive floods in Valencia, Spain, and wildfires raging across Turkey, Portugal, Cyprus, France and Spain.

Public services—such as health services and early responders, like the fire service—come under pressure. Daily life becomes more uncertain. people across Europe are already experiencing the trauma of forced displacement, due to floods, wildfires and storms.

Currently, these are internal displacements, meaning they have not crossed borders into other countries. But is now occurring more frequently, so the risk of wider displacement is rising.

Storm Amy hit the UK in early October. It brought down many trees and cut thousands of people off from power for days, disrupting train travel and leaving many homes without internet access—cutting off a lifeline for many. Scotland was particularly affected, with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks having to restore power to over .

These disruptions do not just take a physical toll. They bring and emotional stress. Families, businesses and entire communities are shouldering growing economic burdens from climate-related damages.

There is a growing sense of stress and anxiety tied to the uncertainty and inevitability of climate-induced extreme weather. The emotional strain only deepens when particularly vulnerable communities are , such as villages in Spain and Portugal, where wildfires tore through forests, homes and businesses.

With extreme weather being predicted more frequently, it is distressing and frightening to rebuild when resilience has already been lowered by damage.

Political shifts across Europe are adding pressure to an already fragile situation. Progress is jeopardized by a rollback of green policies, denial of climate science, and a return to polluting practices such as the EU's delayed launch of its for the second time, meaning forests continue to be in threat of destruction to produce goods and commodities such as palm oil, soy and beef. As these setbacks mount, climate anxiety grows, and our ability to meet climate goals drifts further out of reach.

A more prosperous path

Failing to act now will lead to higher costs down the line and deepen existing inequalities. On the other hand, strengthening green policies and sustainable practices offers a path to a healthier, fairer and more prosperous future. The cost of inaction far outweighs the .

Some parts of Europe are building resilience by focusing on clean energy, building a more circular economy and protecting natural assets such as forests and rivers.

Schemes such as the as part of the EU's clean energy transition should help to reduce emissions by 2050. Plus, there are plans to protect and properly manage , which are .

Despite challenges, such as the future of political agendas and willingness to engage in the green agenda, there is reason for optimism. The EU has already cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37% since 1990, proving that . Europe has emerged as a global leader in climate action, and with continued effort, it can stay on course to meet ambitious green goals to .

But success requires everyone, governments, businesses and communities, to work together. By uniting social, political and environmental efforts, we can still secure a livable, thriving planet for future generations.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .