Federal Government: Germany under heat stress - "The more inactive the government is, the more expensive it will be in the end"
Forest fires and historically low water levels are pushing the economy and the healthcare system to their limits. Criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's climate policy is growing.
Germany faces a summer of extreme weather, with the Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) predicting record-breaking temperatures this year, according to a report by the Handelsblatt. The DWD expects temperatures to surpass all previous records and warns of the high risks heat poses, not just to the economy, but also to public health.
According to an exclusive analysis by Prognos, a Wirtschaftsforschungsunternehmen, the economic impact of the prolonged heatwave could be significant. The Rhein River's water level in Kaub hit its lowest point in 1880, significantly affecting shipping and industrial supply chains. Health risks also increase, with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimating that around 5,100 people died in June 2026 due to the heat, more than the total number of fatalities in any of the previous three years.
By mid-July, the RKI reported 9,800 heat-related deaths, and currently, they have listed 11,900 people who died as a result of heat.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
