Brussels, Belgium. Europe is experiencing increasingly frequent, intense and prolonged heatwaves as global temperatures rise, with major consequences for public health, energy systems, infrastructure and economic activity. The World Health Organisation has warned that future summers are expected to become more difficult.
Rising temperatures
Scientists and meteorologists have warned that higher temperatures and further temperature records would make summer conditions increasingly difficult. Measures to address climate change have remained insufficient, while extreme heat is placing daily life, public services and essential infrastructure under growing pressure.
The planet’s average temperature has risen by around 1.4°C since the widespread burning of fossil fuels began, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. As a result, heatwaves that were once recorded every several years are now occurring annually, in some cases two or three times a year, and are becoming more intense and longer-lasting.
Europe warming faster than the global average
June was among the hottest months ever recorded in Europe, with unprecedented temperatures reported in several countries. Europe is warming at more than twice the global average rate, according to the WHO.
“This heatwave is a rehearsal,” said Dr Hans Henri Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. He said heatwaves were no longer isolated extreme events but recurring crises that are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged.
Economic pressure
Extreme heatwaves affect a wide range of economic sectors, increasing electricity bills, insurance premiums, compensation payouts, public expenditure and losses in working hours, agricultural production and tourism.
Heat-related productivity losses are particularly significant for outdoor work, including construction, agriculture and tourism. Higher use of air conditioning also raises electricity demand, placing additional strain on energy networks and increasing costs for households, businesses and governments.
Heatwaves further increase spending on healthcare, civil protection and firefighting, while damage to infrastructure and crops adds to pressure on national economies.
Labour and growth projections
The International Labour Organisation estimates that heat stress will result in the loss of 2.2% of total working hours worldwide by 2030, equivalent to about 80 million full-time jobs.
A study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre found that, by the middle of the century, many European regions could lose more than 1% of annual labour productivity because of heat. In the hottest areas, losses could exceed 2% to 6%.
A study by the University of Mannheim and the European Central Bank estimated that heatwaves, droughts and floods during the summer of 2025 cost EU economies about €43 billion, or roughly 0.26% of gross value added. Without meaningful adaptation, the cost could rise to €126 billion in the coming years.
Allianz Trade estimates that recurring extreme heatwaves could reduce Europe’s annual growth rate by up to 0.5 percentage points. Southern European countries, including Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, are among the most vulnerable.
