Heatwaves to cost Europe €180bn as rivers dry up and nuclear plants shut

Low river levels have stalled German freight traffic and forced the closure of nuclear plants in France, as Europe’s scorching summer takes a heavy economic toll. Across the continent, workers have struggled in extreme heat, wildfires have raged, and critical infrastructure has been shut down. Economists at the Dutch bank Triodos estimate that the heatwaves could wipe €180bn off the European Union’s GDP. In the UK, the green thinktank Verdant said the heat had already cost the economy £4.4bn by the end of July. The disruptions are hitting several major economies at once, from tourism and power generation to everyday productivity.