Heat wave in Heilbronn: This is how the city is fighting against urban areas!

Heat wave in Heilbronn: This is how the city is fighting against urban areas!

When temperatures rise above 30 degrees, for many in Baden-Württemberg it's time to pack a water bottle and look for shade. The heat becomes a challenge, especially in large cities like Heilbronn. The heavily sealed surfaces made of concrete and asphalt make the temperatures there unbearably high. According to the latest data from SWR, the city is in second to last place in the sad ranking of the most sealed cities in Germany with 54 percent sealed area. A circumstance that is likely to become painfully noticeable again in the coming days.

Oliver Toellner, the head of the parks department in Heilbronn, explains in an interview with SWR Aktuell that the city is taking measures to mitigate the heat stress. “We have to ensure the quality of life in our city,” he says, pointing out the importance of a green environment.

Heat check brings worrying results

The German Environmental Aid (DUH) has published alarming results as part of its heat check. In an analysis of 190 cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, it emerged that cities such as Ludwigshafen and Heilbronn in particular are heavily sealed and offer little green space. These massive surface sealings mean that the heat is felt intensely and the cities end up on the red list. A total of 24 cities received a red card for over 50 percent sealed areas.

The DUH's urgent demand is clear: surface sealing must be stopped by 2035 in order to ensure the quality of life in cities like Heilbronn and to reduce the daily loss of natural habitats. We are currently losing more than 50 hectares of land in Germany to settlements and traffic every day.

Green in the city – a must for the future

The “Green in the City” initiative has big goals. Their goal is to reduce surface sealing and create natural green spaces. Parks, green roofs and facades as well as tree plantings play a central role. These measures are not only intended to ensure cool, shady areas, but also to promote the well-being of people and the local flora and fauna.

The federal government is already supporting cities and municipalities with millions of dollars to create healthy, resilient living spaces and thus increase the quality of life in cities. A digital funding check helps to find suitable funding programs for climate adaptation measures.

The goal is clear: more green, less gray! Only through sustainable use of valuable land can cities like Heilbronn remain livable in the future. When the heat hits mercilessly, the shade of a tree becomes the most valuable space in the city!

City planners should recognize the signs of the times and show a good hand in implementing green projects. This is the only way we can meet the challenges of climate change and sustainably improve the quality of life in our cities.

For further information on current developments and measures in Heilbronn, visit the articles from SWR, YOU H and Green in the city.