This summer’s extreme weather events could cost the European Union’s economy at least 43 billion euros (US$50 billion) in the short term, a new study found.
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This summer was Spain’s hottest since records began in 1961, as the country experienced a total of 33 days under heatwave conditions that fueled its worst wildfire season in three decades.
The past three months were 2.1C warmer than the 1991-2020 summer average and 0.1C warmer than in 2022, the previous warmest summer, national weather agency AEMET said on Tuesday. It is the second summer with the highest number of heatwave days after 2022, which had 41 days, it added.
Nine of the 10 hottest summers in Spain have occurred this century, AEMET spokesperson Ruben del Campo told Reuters.
One of three heatwaves to affect the country lasted 16 days and brought temperatures 4.6C higher than the historical long-term average. Since 1975, only six out of 77 heatwaves have had an anomaly of 4C or more, five of which occurred since 2019.
The heatwaves, which also affected neighboring Portugal, fueled devastating wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula between July and August. Scientists found that the wildfire-prone weather was made about 40 times more likely by human-made climate change.
“Hotter, drier and more flammable conditions are becoming more severe with climate change, and are giving rise to fires of unprecedented intensity,” said Clair Barnes, Researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy Imperial College London and one of the study’s authors.
“Unfortunately, these fires are a sign of what is to come. With every fraction of a degree of warming, extreme, long-lasting heatwaves will continue to intensify, increasing the chance of huge wildfires like the ones that burned vast areas of the Iberian Peninsula.”
Nearly one million hectares – equivalent to almost the land area of Kosovo – have burned across the European Union so far this year, making it the worst wildfire season since records began in 2006. Between January and now, European wildfires generated 39.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, more than triple the amount emitted during the same period of last year.
$46bn in Economic Losses
On Monday, scientists warned European Union lawmakers that this summer’s extreme weather events could cost the region’s economy at least 43 billion euros (US$50 billion) in the short term.
Record-breaking temperatures, droughts and flooding led to short-term losses equivalent to 0.26% of the EU’s economic output in 2024. These manifest in reduced productivity, for example in the construction and hospitality industries, agricultural losses, infrastructure damage, and supply chain disruptions.
Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Bulgaria were paying the highest price, followed by other Mediterranean countries including Spain, Portugal and Italy, researchers found.
The authors said they hoped the figures would help the bloc develop the right adaptation strategies to protect what scientists say is the fastest-warming continent on the planet.
Featured image: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid/Flickr.
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💡How to stay safe in extreme heat
- 💧Stay hydrated: Drink around two liters of water per day, or about eight glasses. In heat conditions, experts recommend drinking throughout the day and urinating around six to seven times a day, or every two to three hours.
- 🍉Eat nutritious food: Stick to hydrating, fresh food such as watermelon, peaches, berries, grapes, and oranges, vegetables that can be juiced, as well as liquid meals such as soups. Avoid spicy foods, known to make the body sweat. Avoid cooking at home, and opt for the microwave instead of the oven if you have to.
- 💦Exercise responsibly: If you exercise outdoors, take breaks in the shade or indoors to allow your body to cool down faster. Wear sensible attire, such as lightweight, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabrics, such as cotton, linen, bamboo, polyester, nylon and microfiber. Hydrate well before a workout and drinking throughout every 15-20 minutes, especially when the physical activity lasts longer than an hour.
- 🌡️Follow local weather services: Check local meteorological services or news channels regularly, as they provide real-time updates and alerts about heat advisories and warnings. Local governments and emergency management agencies often post timely updates on social media platforms as well so keep them monitored.
- 📱Use weather apps: Download reputable weather apps that provide notifications about extreme heat conditions. Many of these apps allow users to set alerts for specific weather events in their area.
- ❗Sign up for emergency alerts: Many cities have rolled out local emergency notification systems or community alert programs that citizens can easily enroll in. These services often send text or email alerts directly to residents during extreme weather events, including heatwaves.
For more tips, check out our article on this topic. To learn more about the risks of extreme heat and how the world is adapting, you can read our 3-part series on extreme heat.
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