Greenpeace Estimate: Summer 2026 Heat Wave to Cost Germany at Least 36 Billion Euros

Greenpeace estimates that the summer 2026 heat wave in Germany will cost the country at least 36 billion euros in economic damage. Sectors such as agriculture, transportation, health, forestry, and education have been significantly affected by the heat, leading to productivity losses, forest damage, learning deficits, and strain on the healthcare system. The total cost is considered a conservative estimate by Greenpeace, as it does not include other disruptions to the European energy system and health effects caused by extreme heat.

The organization is calling on the federal government to take more decisive climate action in order to prevent future economic and environmental damage. Greenpeace highlights the need for ambitious climate protection measures and emphasizes the high costs of extreme weather events like heat waves. In a previous report, Greenpeace also outlined the environmental and health costs associated with meat production, calling for measures to promote climate-friendly foods and reduce subsidies for environmentally harmful products.