Extreme heat in Cyprus could cause billions in economic losses by 2050

A new study by the Cyprus Institute warns that cumulative economic losses in Cyprus could reach between €2.3 billion and €3.8 billion by 2050 due to rising extreme heat. Researchers indicate that failure to adapt workplaces to higher temperatures will lead to significant productivity declines, particularly in the construction, agriculture, and tourism sectors. The economic output lost to hotter working conditions is projected to hit €101 million annually by 2030, climbing to approximately €303 million per year by 2050.

The research combined climate and biological data to assess thermal stress on workers, comparing current projections against historical data from 1980 to 2020. The findings suggest a clear trend of increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which will force more frequent work stoppages or reduced labor hours for both indoor and outdoor employees. The report emphasizes that such losses are based on a moderate climate change scenario, highlighting the urgent need for structural workplace adaptations to mitigate these risks.

Separately, the Cyprus Meteorological Service noted that while recent heatwaves have been severe, July 2026 was relatively milder than the previous two years. Meteorologist Andreas Chrysanthou reported that while temperatures reached 43.2 degrees Celsius in Nicosia, the overall frequency of extreme alerts was lower than in 2024 and 2025.