Germany's losses due to heat and drought reach 36 billion euros - Sarmad

Estimates by the international environmental organization Greenpeace revealed that the severe heatwaves and droughts experienced in Germany during the summer of this year inflicted economic losses of at least 36 billion euros, equivalent to approximately 1% of the country’s gross domestic product.

The organization stated in a press release that these losses extended to several vital sectors, including the labor market, transport, health, agriculture, forestry, and education, as high temperatures and drought imposed additional burdens on the economy, infrastructure, and public services.

The organization noted that drought caused losses in the forestry sector estimated at around 7.5 billion euros, while losses in the agricultural sector amounted to approximately 3.4 billion euros.

It further highlighted that the estimates did not include the full extent of environmental losses resulting from forest fires, including the loss of biodiversity, reduced capacity of forests to protect drinking water sources and mitigate soil erosion, as well as damage to their ability to regulate the local climate.