GERMAN ECONOMY SUFFERS €36 BILLION IN LOSSES DUE TO EXTREME HEAT AND DROUGHT

BERLIN, AUGUST 24 /SRNA/ - Extreme heat and weeks of drought have caused €36 billion in damage to the German economy, with the estimate including losses from failed crops, forest fires, and healthcare costs, as well as lost productivity and costs in the education sector, the environmental NGO Greenpeace said.

It estimated that tens of millions of working hours were lost due to the heat, while the prolonged period of drought is expected to significantly reduce crop yields in some parts of the country.

River navigation had to be suspended on some stretches due to very low water levels on major rivers such as the Rhine, German media reported.

Industries that depend on large quantities of raw materials and semi-finished products, such as the chemical, steel and oil industries, have been particularly affected.

According to the estimate, around 25 days of extreme heat caused €10.8 billion in losses due to lower productivity and increased absence from work.

Damage to forests was estimated at €7.5 billion, while healthcare costs reached €6.9 billion.

Agriculture, inland waterway transport and education were also significantly affected.

Greenpeace warned that some serious impacts cannot yet be quantified, such as the effects on the energy system caused by a lack of water for cooling, as well as increased concentrations of ozone and fine particulate matter in the air due to high temperatures.

The national temperature record was broken for three consecutive days in June, with the highest temperature of 41.7 degrees Celsius recorded in the eastern state of Brandenburg.