Due to the heatwave in Switzerland, nuclear power plants are shut down, and asphalt is melting in Italy.

Extreme heat in Europe

Europe is experiencing extremely high temperatures, reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. The situation regarding the scorching air is described in a piece by 'Glavkom', referencing Euronews.

Italy

It is forecast that Friday will see the peak of the heat in Italy and throughout 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 fatalities at the beginning of the week.

In the city of Bolzano in northern Italy, temperatures reached +37 degrees, which has become a more common occurrence. Authorities emphasize the need to increase green spaces to lower temperatures, as shaded areas can be several degrees cooler.

Austria

On Thursday, temperatures in Austria remained at around 38 degrees, leading tourists in Salzburg to seek refuge in air-conditioned places. This situation highlights issues in urban planning and the lack of green areas in densely populated regions.

Recently, the number of hot days in Salzburg, when temperatures exceed 30 degrees, has increased from 10 to 20 days per year. Austria is also facing the risk of forest fires due to the heat and drought, which have caused 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 of the reactors was completely stopped, while the other operates at half power due to water overheating in the Aar river.

Discharging hot water used to cool the reactors back into the river could cause immediate harm to local flora and fauna.

Impact of heat on the economy

According to a report by Allianz, such a heatwave could slow down economic growth in Europe by half a percent in 2025. GDP losses due to elevated temperatures range from 0.1% for the German economy to 1.4% for Spain.

This report indicates that climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which has far-reaching consequences for the economy. Such losses can be mitigated through structural reforms in cities and adapting workplaces to extreme weather conditions.