Germany: heat waves and floods have cost more than 80 billion in recent years

Heat waves, torrential rains and floods attributed to global warming have caused damage of more than 80 billion euros in Germany in recent years, according to a study published on Monday and deemed "

" by the Minister of the Environment.

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According to this study commissioned by the Ministries of Climate and Environment, the exceptional heat waves and droughts of the summers of 2018 and 2019 caused costs of some 35 billion euros, while the deadly floods of July 2021 in the west of the country cost more than 40 billion.

Added to this are some 5 billion additional damages linked to violent storms or hailstorms, according to a press release.

Farmers and forests, first victims

The heat waves primarily affected agriculture and forests.

Since 2000, Germany has on average suffered damage of at least 6.6 billion euros per year, the study also specifies.

“

” from the experts, reacted the Minister of the Environment Steffi Lemke, quoted in the press release.

“

,” assured the environmental minister.

The government of Social Democrat Olaf Scholz has initiated, mainly at the instigation of his environmentalist ally, a series of measures to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.

The country thus wants to almost double its production of renewable energy in less than a decade.

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“

”, underlined the Minister of Climate Robert Habeck in the same press release, judging that the study provided the "

" for its development.