Page 4 - AWA Vol.42-No.6 issue

Drought and fires hit Europe and undermine agriculture

Europe is facing successive heat waves, called Meanwhile, falling river levels are disrupting the trans-
sixth-generation fires, which have led to the spread of port of goods, while water shortages threaten energy pro-
fires and drought in many countries, caused significant duction in areas that rely on hydropower.
human losses, and increased anxiety about the future in In a report published last Wednesday on the “Eroactive”
light of the escalating risks of climate change around the website, it was found that the drop in water levels has af-
world. Behind the human and forest tragedies lies a long fected navigation on the Danube River for weeks, as com-
bill of material losses that deepens the economic crises in panies suspended most ferry services between Budapest
these countries.
and neighboring cities earlier this month.
Between April and June, large parts of the continent, A reading of only 27 centimeters was recorded in Bu-
from Portugal in the southwest to southern Finland in the dapest last Tuesday evening, the lowest record level for
northeast, saw below-average rainfall. These conditions, the longest river in Europe at this time of year, while the
in addition to successive heat waves, have exacerbated minimum depth required for safe navigation is 2.7 metres.
drought across Europe, leaving widespread agricultural
and hydrological impacts, unusually low river levels, and The level of the Rhine River, the second longest river
severe forest fires, especially in Spain and France, where in Central and Western Europe, has also fallen sharply
116,000 hectares and 42,000 hectares burned, respective- in recent weeks, disrupting navigation on a major route
ly, according to data from the European Institute for For- transporting iron ore, coal, grains, and especially oil.
estry and Sanitation Information. Heatwaves, droughts and floods affected around a quar-
Drought is placing a heavy burden on agriculture. His- ter of EU regions in the summer of 2025. A new exten-
torical crop losses, including the lowest maize yield in sive study by the University of Mannheim and economists
France in 50 years, the loss of more than 1 million hectares from the European Central Bank shows estimated losses
of maize in Romania, and ongoing global conflicts, could of around €43 billion in 2025 alone, and losses that will
lead to higher food prices and disproportionately affect reach a total of €126 billion by 2029.
low-income families. The European Environment Agency explains that ex-
An analysis by the Energy and Climate Information treme weather and climate events caused economic
Unit estimated that the heatwave that hit Europe in June losses in assets estimated at approximately 822 billion
caused a loss of more than two billion euros in the value euros during the period from 1980 to 2024 in the Europe-
of the grain crop, with France and Hungary bearing the an Union, of which more than 208 billion euros (25%) be-
brunt of the damage. tween 2021 and 2024. Statistical analyzes have revealed
that economic losses are increasing over time, and with
France accounted for nearly half of the damage to cere- the severity of extreme weather and climate events ex-
al crops. Its forecast has been cut by 4.1 million tonnes, pected to increase, the associated economic losses are
worth approximately €891 million at current prices. likely to continue to increase.
Hungary suffered the second largest losses, as its grain June 2026 was the hottest month on record in western
production forecast was reduced by 2.4 million tons, Europe and the second hottest globally, driven by the
worth approximately 444 million euros. Spain lost an ad- highest sea surface temperatures on record for the month,
ditional 1.4 million tons, worth €276 million, while Ger- according to the monthly update from the Copernicus Cli-
many's forecasts were cut by almost the same amount, mate Change Service.
equivalent to €233 million in production.
The Zurich Institute said in its latest climate report that
Heat waves are reshaping the global economy: for the European Union and the United Kingdom, the cur-
Many countries across Europe have begun implement- rent economic losses resulting from drought amount to 9
ing emergency restrictions or temporary bans on non-es- billion euros annually. In a scenario where global tem-
sential uses of drinking water. Rationalizing water con- peratures rise between two and three degrees Celsius
sumption can increase financial burdens and pressures, above pre-industrial levels, this figure could almost dou-
especially on low-income families. ble, reaching €17.3 billion.

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2 Vol. 42 No. 6