UK Heatwave Cost Economy 1.35 Billion Euros, Lost 24 Million Work Hours

The United Kingdom's economy suffered an estimated loss of 1.35 billion euros due to a June heatwave, which also led to 24 million lost working hours, according to a study by the London School of Economics (LSE).

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People in jobs with higher exposure to high temperatures and greater physical demands, in sectors such as construction and agriculture, reduced their working hours more than those in jobs with less exposure and fewer physical demands, such as academia.

The extreme heat affected many European countries, stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to Ukraine. In the UK, individuals in jobs with high exposure to heat and significant physical demands, such as construction and agriculture, were most likely to reduce their working hours. The LSE study, which surveyed 1,950 adults across the UK during the week of June 22, found an average reduction of 0.47 working hours. It also revealed that 3.6% of respondents, approximately 1.25 million workers, did not work at all that week due to the heat.

Researchers examined how Britons perceived the heatwave's impact on their work, sleep, and daily routines. A significant majority, 87%, reported at least one health impact, including sleep disturbances, increased fatigue, and in some cases, dizziness, fainting, or heart palpitations.

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The United Kingdom is a country that remains unprepared for climate change.

Elizabeth Robinson, director of the Grantham Research Institute at LSE, stated that the UK is "a country that remains unprepared for climate change." She urged the government to implement measures to "make workplaces safer."

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make workplaces safer