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🇫🇷 France /Environment & Climate

France's drought cost to exceed 2022 levels, minister warns

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • France's current drought is expected to be more costly than the 2022 drought, which incurred an estimated 5.6 billion euros in damages.
  • The 2022 costs included 3.5 billion euros for individual house cracks due to soil shrinkage, 1.1 billion euros in agricultural losses, and a 20% drop in hydroelectric production.
  • The minister warned that the ongoing heatwave will worsen the situation, with 99 departments under water restriction measures, 62 of which are in a state of 'crisis'.

France is bracing for a drought that is already being described as 'historic' and is projected to be more costly than the 2022 crisis, according to the Minister of Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut. The country is preparing for another heatwave, which is expected to exacerbate the already severe water shortage.

This situation has a real economic impact. For the drought of 2022, this cost had been estimated at 5.6 billion euros, including 3.5 billion for the cracks in individual houses related to clay shrinkage and swelling, 1.1 billion in agricultural production losses and a 20% drop in hydroelectric production.

— Monique BarbutRecalling the economic impact of the 2022 drought.

Barbut stated that the economic impact of the current drought will surpass the estimated 5.6 billion euros incurred in 2022. She recalled that the previous year's costs included 3.5 billion euros specifically for damage to individual homes caused by soil shrinkage and swelling, 1.1 billion euros in agricultural production losses, and a significant 20% reduction in hydroelectric power generation.

This year, these figures will be higher than in 2022.

— Monique BarbutProjecting the increased costs of the current drought.

"This year, these figures will be higher than in 2022," the minister announced at the opening of a hydrological anticipation and monitoring committee meeting. She added that these costs will be further increased by the expenses related to ongoing forest fires. The minister emphasized that the current drought's indicators are comparable to those of the historic droughts in 1976 and 2022, and the impending heatwave will intensify the situation.

Today several indicators show levels comparable to those of the historic drought of 1976 or that of 2022 and the new heatwave announced this week will further accentuate this already historic drought.

— Monique BarbutDescribing the severity of the current drought.

Currently, 99 French departments are under water surveillance, with potential restrictions on water usage. Of these, 62 departments are classified as being in a 'crisis' situation. Barbut stressed that adhering to these water restriction measures is not optional but a duty. While acknowledging the difficulties faced by farmers, she stated that it is unacceptable for the rules to be broken, referencing recent calls by agricultural unions for farmers to disregard irrigation bans.

Respecting the restriction measures is not a choice, it is a duty. If I am aware of the difficulties farmers face, it is not acceptable that the rules are broken.

— Monique BarbutEmphasizing the mandatory nature of water restrictions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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