Extreme weather has cost Belgium 12-15 billion EUR since 2000
Extreme weather and climate-related events are costing Europe billions of euros each year, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). For Belgium, the estimated cost between 2000 and 2023 is between 12 and 15 billion EUR.
The EEA analysis covers 38 countries, including the EU, plus others such as Switzerland and the Balkan states. In 2023 alone, extreme weather caused more than 45 billion EUR in damage. Costs were even higher in 2021 and 2022. Since 1980, the total damage across Europe has exceeded 790 billion EUR.
The highest national costs have been recorded in Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Belgium ranks in a second group with Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, each incurring 12–15 billion EUR in damages since 2000. When measured per square kilometre, however, Belgium ranks second (almost 554,000 EUR/km²), behind Slovenia (over 866,000 EUR/km²) and ahead of Germany (just under 505,000 EUR/km²).
The leading causes of damage are floods, storms, wind and hail. Most deaths, however, result from heat waves, cold spells, droughts and forest fires.
The EEA warns that too little of the damage is insured. In most countries, more than half, and often more than 90 per cent of the losses were uninsured. Economic losses are also rising faster than insured damages.
Aftermath of flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Chaudfontaine in 2021. © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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