Story perspectives

Fossil Fuel Use Surges During Droughts, Emissions Spike

4/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study of 25 European countries from 2017–2023 finds fossil-fuel generation rose by 180 terawatt-hours during droughts, increasing CO2 emissions by 141 million tons.
Droughts reduce hydropower, prompting greater fossil-fuel use across Europe.
Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy faced the highest pollution levels, while France reduced coal use.
The financial impact is about $26 billion, and researchers call for a more resilient energy system with stronger interconnections and renewables.

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Story summary

A study of 25 European countries from 2017–2023 finds fossil-fuel generation rose by 180 terawatt-hours during droughts, increasing CO2 emissions by 141 million tons.
Droughts reduce hydropower, prompting greater fossil-fuel use across Europe.
Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy faced the highest pollution levels, while France reduced coal use.
The financial impact is about $26 billion, and researchers call for a more resilient energy system with stronger interconnections and renewables.