Mannheim burns: Hottest city in Germany is fighting the heat!
Mannheim burns: Hottest city in Germany is fighting the heat!
In a current analysis of German Environmental Aid (DUH), Mannheim won the inglorious title of the hottest city in Germany. Over 90 percent of the population there is affected by summer heat, which puts the city into the spotlight of the heat load. According to the heat index, more than 12 million people in major German cities suffer from extreme temperatures, with Mannheim, together with Ludwigshafen and Worms, which is the most affected cities, such as the Hitze-check 2025 shows.
A look at the map of the heat-affair index shows that not only Mannheim, but also the neighboring Karlsruhe city area suffers from the effects of the heat. Karlsruhe received a red card in the current heat check after only a yellow card came from it last year. The urban structure, embedded in the Upper Rhine moat, significantly increases the susceptibility to heat of this region.
measures to combat the heat
Mannheim passed a heat action plan in 2021 to counteract the extreme heat load. The measures already implemented include planting 1,000 trees, the promotion of green islands and the greening of the facade. In addition, the station forecourt was redesigned so that a white floor reflects the sun's rays and contributes to cooling. These measures are part of a comprehensive plan, which also includes the fresh air lines from the area of the Federal Garden Show 2023, which the city is supposed to cool by more than two degrees.
Karlsruhe also plans to introduce a heat action plan to ensure structural heat protection in daycare centers and schools and to sensitize endangered population groups. However, heat protection remains a voluntary task of the municipality, which is a special challenge in view of the tight health insurers. The city administration hopes for a conversion of this voluntary measure into a mandatory task in order to be able to receive sufficient financial support from the federal and state governments.
The contribution of the federal
The Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) underlines the need to adapt to climate change. It recommends a fundamental revision of urban development to promote heat -adapted building. The ministry has developed a variety of proposals for heat provision, including the creation of more green areas, the improvement of inner -city parks and the promotion of greening of facade.
The DUH calls for binding minimum green parts on land and in public space in this context. This is an important step in making urban space more resistant to the climate impacts. Every year around 3,000 people die from extreme heat in Germany, and awareness of this problem is essential to ensure the quality of life in our cities.
Sustainable urban development is more than a trend. It is urgently needed to meet the challenges of climate change and to secure the quality of life in cities such as Mannheim and Karlsruhe. It remains to be seen whether these measures will be sufficient, but the commitment of cities and organizations is an important step in the right direction.
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| Ort | Mannheim, Deutschland |
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