The recent heatwaves hitting France and other parts of Europe (such as the UK, Portugal, Spain, Greece) and widely covered here at Gamereactor could cost the country €10 billion to €15 billion, as environment minister Monique Barbut estimates based on national statistics agency INSEE, at the same time warning that the heatwave period is not over yet (as summer just passed its halfway point anyway).
This summer's impact is thus expected to be far worse than the extreme drought in 2022. Barbut explains that it costed around €5.6 billion, but this year's heatwaves have been longer and more intense, with larger forest fires and a much sharper fall in agricultural production.
In the meantime, drought is still putting pressure on water supplies and the wider economy, as more than 40,000 people in France are facing water cuts, while economists warn Europe's record heat and drought could cost hundreds of billions of euros by having, and keeping disrupting farming, energy, shipping, and public health.
