Heatwave costs UK economy 1.15 billion pounds

The cost of the heatwave that affected Western and Central Europe in June to the United Kingdom's economy has been calculated at 1.15 billion pounds, or approximately 1.5 billion dollars. The loss was measured primarily through the decline in working hours and the reduction in labor productivity.

According to a survey of 1,950 adults across the UK conducted by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, extreme heat negatively affected not only working hours but also work environments, commuting, sleep patterns, and general health.

Elizabeth Robinson, Director of the Grantham Institute, stated that the findings show the country is failing to adapt to climate change, saying, “Our findings show that the country is still not sufficiently adapting to the changing climate. The government cannot continue to ignore extreme heat.”

WORKING HOURS AND HEALTH AFFECTED

According to the survey, employees worked an average of about 30 minutes less during the week starting Monday, June 22. During that same week, national temperature records for June were broken for three consecutive days. The decline in working time was more pronounced among those working outdoors or in jobs requiring physical exertion, such as construction and agriculture.

3.6 percent of participants said they did not work at all that week due to high temperatures. 87 percent of employees reported experiencing at least one health issue during the heatwave. Disrupted sleep patterns, fatigue at work, dizziness, fainting, and rapid heartbeat were among the prominent complaints.

5 percent of those surveyed stated they received medical attention, while approximately 3 percent experienced an accident or injury at work. About two-thirds of this group indicated they believed weather conditions were a factor in the incident.

''2,700 EXCESS DEATHS''

According to researchers, the June heatwave was one of the most severe examples recorded in Europe. While it is estimated that there were approximately 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales, it was assessed that climate change pushed temperatures several degrees higher than normal conditions.

Extreme heat also revealed the extent to which infrastructure in the UK, including public transport, offices, and other workplaces, is unprepared for hot weather conditions. Planning and zoning regulations that make it difficult to install air conditioning and similar cooling solutions in some homes have also become a subject of debate.

A separate study by World Weather Attribution researchers indicated that the economic impacts of heatwaves could spread over a longer term. It was noted that extreme heat rapidly evaporates soil moisture across Europe, worsening drought conditions, which could put pressure on agriculture, transport, and energy production.

Climate scientist Sarah Kew from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute commented, “Europe’s climate is changing rapidly. While precipitation patterns continue to show a complex picture, our findings show that extreme heat is now the primary driver of drought on our continent.”

News Source: 12punto