There is an extremely high temperature observed on the European continent, reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. The situation with the heated air is described in a piece from the publication 'Glavcom' referencing Euronews.
Italy
It is forecasted that on Friday, the temperature peak of heat will hit Italy and southern Europe. According to the Italian Ministry of Health, abnormally high temperatures have already been recorded in 17 major cities. This has led to five deaths at the beginning of the week.
In the city of Bolzano in northern Italy, the temperature reached +37 degrees, which has become more common. Authorities emphasize the need to increase green spaces to reduce temperature as the air in shaded places can be several degrees cooler.
Austria
On Thursday, Austria saw temperatures remain around 38 degrees, leading tourists in Salzburg to seek refuge in air-conditioned spaces. The situation highlights urban planning issues and the lack of green zones in densely populated areas.
Recently, the number of hot days in Salzburg, when temperatures exceed 30 degrees, has increased from 10 to 20 days a year. Austria also faces the risk of wildfires due to heat and drought, which have resulted in several fires in Upper Austria.
Switzerland
In the canton of Aargau in Switzerland, a nuclear power plant was partially shut down due to extremely high temperatures. One reactor has been completely shut down, while another operates at half capacity due to overheating of the water in the Aare River.
The discharge of hot water used for cooling the reactors back into the river can instantly harm the local flora and fauna.
Impact of Heat on the Economy
According to a report by Allianz, a heat wave like this could slow economic growth in Europe by half a percent in 2025. The GDP losses from rising temperatures vary from 0.1% for the German economy to 1.4% for Spain.
This report shows that climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat, which has far-reaching consequences for the economy. Such losses can be mitigated through structural measures in cities and adapting workplaces to extreme weather conditions.
A widespread heatwave in Europe is causing abnormally high temperatures, which have serious impacts on human health, the economy, and ecology. Western countries are taking measures to prevent the negative effects of heat, such as exacerbating wildfires, overheating nuclear power plants, and GDP losses.