From tourism to power generation and productivity, Europe feels economic cost of heatwaves

The Chooz nuclear power plant in northern France was shut down as the level of the Meuse River dropped. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA

Across Europe this scorching summer, workers have struggled in the heat as wildfires raged and critical infrastructure was shut down.

Here we look at the impact of the heatwaves on several major economies across mainland Europe – with the help of analysis from economists at the Dutch bank Triodos, who estimate a total of €180bn could be wiped off EU GDP by the heatwaves. In the UK, the green thinktank Verdant said this week that the heat had already cost the economy £4.4bn by the end of July.