Heat alarm in Germany: Cities are fighting the concrete disaster!

Heat alarm in Germany: Cities are fighting the concrete disaster!

Mannheim, Deutschland - When the temperatures rise, the challenges in our cities also get pruned. A recent study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) illuminates how many German cities are prone to heat. More than 12 million people are exposed to extreme heat in the urban centers in Germany. The study, which is based on data from 190 cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, clearly shows that cities in southern Germany such as Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Worms are particularly badly affected with a heat load from 88 to 91 percent of the population. Tagesspiegel reports of the devastating conditions that prevail in these regions. In contrast, Northern German cities such as Flensburg, Wilhelmshaven and Kiel are relatively cool and thus offer a pleasant exception.

The analysis evaluates cities according to their heat flow index, which takes into account various factors such as high temperatures, a lot of concrete and little green. In a preliminary ranking, 31 cities received a red card, including Frankfurt am Main and Magdeburg. 131 cities are classified in the middle yellow category, while there are at least 28 cities, which cut in the best category, green, including Hamburg. The magic word in this context remains "green": trees can reduce the ambient temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius and are therefore priceless for the quality of life in cities. The DUH points out that many German cities are characterized by an increase in sealed areas and offer little space for green volume, as the data prove.

green versus gray

The clear increase in sealed areas goes hand in hand with the demand of the DUH after a legally binding requirement to stop the area sealing until 2035. Cities such as Ludwigshafen, Heilbronn and Regensburg are particularly affected by this problem and show very little green in comparison to their sealed areas. In contrast, Detmold, Ratingen and Potsdam keep the balance better and offer a lot of green, which has a positive effect on the city climate. The creation of relaxation areas in cities is more than just an aesthetic need, it is a necessity that Frank Winkler from the GKV alliance for Health emphasizes Baden-Württemberg.

Politics has reacted and established concepts such as "sponge city" and the promotion of well -founded roofs so that cities become more heat -resistant. The Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) supports these initiatives, so the building owners' view is becoming increasingly important. The goal is clear: the development of urban infrastructures must be heat. For the municipalities, this means that they are supposed to plant trees, seal surfaces and optimize water storage and shading to be prepared against climate change.

precautions against the heat

The strategy for heat provision, which is funded by the BMWSB, contains seven important suggestions to give cities a green-rich face. This includes the creation of space for more green, powerful open space systems, internal greenery and climatic oases with shade. The networking of the green areas is also highlighted as an essential point to support the cold air balance. In view of the facts that Germany has heated up by 2.5 degrees since the pre -industrial period and that higher temperatures have been recorded, quick action is required.

The numbers speak a clear language: estimates assume that around 3,000 heat -related deaths can be complained about in 2023 and 2024. Older people and other vulnerable groups in particular threaten health risks due to the heat, which is why the recommendations of the health authorities to drink sufficiently and to move physical exertion to the cooler hours of the day must be taken into account frequently. This shows in an impressive way that not only the cityscape, but also the health of the citizens: inside depends on a sustainable urban development.