Europe has warmed more than twice as much as the rest of the world in the past three decades, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.

Between 1991 and 2021, temperatures in Europe warmed an average of 0.5C (0.9F) per decade, compared to the global average of 0.2C (0.36F).

This is despite the European Union cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 31% between 1990 and 2020.

One of the factors in Europe’s warming is that a large part of the continent is in the sub-Arctic and Arctic regions – the fastest-warming area on Earth.

And there were fewer clouds during the summer, allowing more sunlight and heat to reach the continent, according to Freja Vamborg, senior scientist with the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Last summer in Europe broke records – there was a heatwave in many countries and Alpine glaciers have continued to melt rapidly.

The UK saw its hottest temperature ever recorded and there were also destructive wildfires in France, Turkey, Italy and Greece.

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In 2021, it is estimated that extreme weather events made worse by climate change – such as floods – cost the continent more than $50bn (£43.8bn).

WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said: “Europe presents a live picture of a warming world and reminds us that even well-prepared societies are not safe from impacts of extreme weather events.

“On the mitigation side, the good pace in reducing greenhouse gases emissions in the region should continue and ambition should be further increased.

“Europe can play a key role towards achieving a carbon neutral society by the middle of the century to meet the Paris Agreement.”

Meanwhile, world leaders are preparing to travel to Egypt next week for COP27, the annual United Nations climate summit.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak initially refused to attend due to “other pressing domestic commitments” but, following criticism, he changed his mind on Wednesday.

The summit will run from 6-18 November.

The UK chaired the previous summit last year, Glasgow’s COP26, where world leaders made a series of pledges culminating in an agreement to strengthen emissions-cutting targets for 2030 by the end of next year.

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