Recent studies, notably the work of the IPCC, indicate that the frequency and severity of events such as drought and forest fires are easier to link to climate change, he said.
For others, such as hailstorms, there is still a lack of evidence.
“For some types, like non-tropical storms, the climate signal in Europe is unclear so it is uncertain if they will increase or not,” he said.
“But for others – like droughts, not only in the Mediterranean but over most of Europe – will intensify based on climate predictions.”
Germany was the country in Europe that suffered the most with losses amounting to 107 million euros (US$120 million) and 42,000 victims, over the past four decades.
This was followed by France (99 billion euros in damages and 26,700 deaths) and Italy (90 billion euros and 21,600 deaths).
Only 23 per cent of material damages across Europe were covered by insurance, but there are also massive disparities between countries.
In Romania and Lithuania only 1 per cent was insured compared to 55 per cent in the Netherlands or 56 per cent in Denmark.
Disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are not included in these figures, as they are not meteorological.
According to a similar report by the US weather agency NOAA, the US has suffered 310 weather and climate disasters since 1980, with total damage exceeding US$2,155 billion.
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