Extreme heat, widespread drought marked European climate in 2022

Record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases have led to increased incidences of droughts, floods and heatwaves on a global scale, the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) annual report for 2022 said. At least 15,700 deaths in Europe in 2022 were linked to heatwaves. Unprecedented extreme heat and widespread drought marked European climate in 2022.The WMO, an agency of the United Nations, in its report said real-time data from specific locations show that levels of the three greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - continued to increase in 2022.Global mean temperatures for the past eight years have been the highest on record; in 2022, it was 1.15 degree Celsius above the 1850-1900 average. The long-running cooling La Niña event only put a temporary brake on rising global temperatures in 2022. The past eight years have been the warmest on record. If El Niño develops, this will turn up the heat,it said. 

#ClimateChange shocks increased in 2022. Ocean heat and sea level rise at record levels. Antarctic sea ice hit a new low. Extreme glacier melt in Europe. #StateOfClimate report highlights the huge socio-economic cost of droughts, floods, and heatwaves. https://t.co/yipNQtrK12 pic.twitter.com/Vnrbe9M8Xl

— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) April 21, 2023

"While greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and the climate continues to change, populations worldwide continue to be gravely impacted by extreme weather and climate events," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said while addressing news conference on Friday. "For example, in 2022, continuous drought in East Africa, record breaking rainfall in Pakistan and record-breaking heatwaves in China and Europe affected tens of millions, drove food insecurity, boosted mass migration, and cost billions of dollars in loss and damage," Taalas said.

The report said the monsoon onset in India was earlier and the withdrawal later than normal in 2022. The pre-monsoon period was also exceptionally hot in India and neighbouring Pakistan.The extreme heat reduced grain yields and led to a number of forest fires, particularly in the hill state of Uttarakhand, the report said. There was also significant flooding in India at various stages during the monsoon season, particularly in the northeast in June 2022, with over 700 deaths reported during the season from flooding and landslides, and a further 900 from lightning.  Europe shattered records for glacier melt in 2022. Switzerland lost 6 percent of glacier ice volume in just one year.

Europe shattered records for glacier melt in 2022. Switzerland lost 6 percent of glacier ice volume in just one year. This is the #StateOfClimate. https://t.co/Fos5FofGzb pic.twitter.com/EFQiabXjra

— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) April 21, 2023

Europe also experienced numerous heatwaves, with significant heatwaves occurring in each of the three summer months. During the summer, around 4,600 deaths in Spain, 4,500 in Germany, 2,800 in the UK among those aged 65 and older, 2,800 in France and 1,000 in Portugal were associated with the unusual heat, the report said. The most exceptional heatwave occurred in mid-July 2022.