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June Heatwave Cost UK Economy More than £1bn: Study
Researchers said 24 million lost work hours and widespread health impacts show the U.K. remains poorly adapted to extreme heat.
Britain's record-breaking June heat wave resulted in 24 million lost work hours, costing the economy £1.15 billion , according to an estimate released Thursday by the London School of Economics .
England experienced its warmest June since 1884, with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F, as buildings designed for cold climates trapped heat and forced infrastructure closures.
Researchers surveyed 1,950 adults and found 3.6 percent—equivalent to 1.25 million workers—missed work entirely, while 87 percent reported health impacts including sleep disruption and dizziness.
Environmental economist Shouro Dasgupta urged governments to implement mandatory rest breaks and maximum temperature thresholds, noting outdoor and physically demanding sectors faced the greatest impact.
This heat wave was the second of three to hit Europe this year, with LSE director Elizabeth Robinson warning the country remains "woefully under-adapted" and urging it to "act now.
(London=Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = The losses to the British economy caused by the heatwave that struck Western Europe last month amount to 1.15 billion pounds (approximately 2.26 trillion won)...