Record low river flows across Europe strain energy supply and freight transport

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the 2026 summer delivered the lowest river flows in Europe since the European Flood Awareness System began recording in 1992, with the Rhine, Danube, Po, Loire, Rhône and Seine all reaching simultaneous record lows. This scarcity hampered inland freight, limiting Rhine loads to 15% of capacity and Danube loads to about 30%, which in turn drove freight rates up, sometimes doubling them.

Energy production suffered as high water temperatures forced French nuclear reactors to shut down and Hungary’s Paks plant cut output due to inadequate cooling water. Alpine hydropower generation dropped to 51% in Austria and 26% in Switzerland. Experts link the trend to rising temperatures and increased evaporation, noting that climate models have long projected summer flow reductions across the continent. The combined effects threaten energy security, logistics costs and broader economic stability in affected EU states.