Record drought poses serious threat to Europe's environment and critical infrastructure | DW News

Around much of the Northern Hemisphere, from Hungary to Hawaii, from the drying Rhine River to the now-recovering Rio Grande, or from Casablanca to California, summer droughts and high temperatures are having a serious impact on everything from agriculture to the freight industry.

A summer of record-breaking heat is drying up rivers across Europe. Around half the continent is facing an unprecedented drought. Shipping companies in Germany are preparing for the worst as the River Rhine drops to critical levels. Authorities say many vessels will be unable to navigate the key shipping route if the water drops much lower. Scientists warn climate change is leading to even more frequent periods of extreme heat and drought.

Nearly 660,000 hectares of European land have already been destroyed by fires this year, according to EU data. The scale of the destruction this year would be the worst since records began in 2006. If 2022 follows a similar trajectory as 2017, Europe is on course to see more than a million hectares of land destroyed. In 2017, it reached 988,087.

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#Drought #Heatwave #ClimateChange