Britain's third heatwave in four weeks significantly strains its already fragile economy as businesses report disrupted productivity and rising costs. In Herefordshire, farmers like Rob Davies experience halved yields for vital crops like grass and maize. The economic impact transcends agriculture, with the Office for National Statistics noting £1.2 billion in annual productivity losses from extreme heat. Poorly designed infrastructure exacerbates worker difficulties, with risks of melted tarmac and signal failures in transportation systems, further contributing to economic challenges and safety issues for workers in the field.
"Grass is a very important crop for us, and our grass yields currently are down by about 50%. Maize is also looking to be around 50% down."
"The impact across the wider economy could be quite profound."
"Our homes are not designed for heat. Our transport infrastructure isn't either, so it's harder to get to work, and it's harder to function when you're at work."
"It takes longer to complete jobs because people are taking more breaks-cooling down in the van, drinking water, getting out of the sun."
Collection
[
|
...
]