UK Economy Hit with £4.4 Billion in Lost Output Due to Prolonged Heatwaves

A new analysis by thinktank Verdant estimates that the UK economy has taken a £4.4 billion hit in lost output due to repeated heatwaves this summer.

The assessment, which includes data from last month's high temperatures, is an update on a previous estimate of £2.36 billion for June alone.

Verdant's director, James Meadway, warned that 'the economic costs of climate change are already with us, and set to worsen in future years.'

The thinktank calls for the government to implement a maximum working temperature and compensate workers when they're forced to cut hours due to extreme heat.

If heatwaves continue at the same rate as in the last decade, Verdant predicts that the annual economic cost could rise to more than £25 billion by 2030.