Heat alarm: Over 12 million Germans live in dangerous heat zones!

Heat alarm: Over 12 million Germans live in dangerous heat zones!

In Germany, the ongoing heat stress is leading to alarming conditions in many places. According to a current report by German Environmental Aid (DUH), more than 12 million people live in areas that are classified as extremely heat-stressed. These findings come from the new Heat Impact Index (HBI), which was created for 190 German cities. The analysis takes into account, among other things, surface temperatures and population densities and enables a more precise assessment of heat-related risks to urban populations. A total of 31 cities were classified as “Red”, 131 as “Yellow” and 28 as “Green”, with cities in the south such as Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Worms being particularly affected.

Frankfurt am Main is the worst example. Here, 60% of the population lives in areas exposed to high heat, while the temperature regularly rises above 36 degrees. The city also has 50% of the area sealed, with only 2.6% being green. This situation highlights an urgent need for action.

Need for more green in cities

The German Environmental Aid is therefore calling for legal requirements for green areas in urban building regulations in order to improve the quality of life under the persistent heat stress. “Heat protection should be given a similar priority to housing construction and infrastructure,” says the DUH statement. Citizens can use online platforms to advocate for more heat protection in their communities, which can be seen from the broad response from the public.

The topic has significantly increased media attention through the publication of extensive analyzes and press events, such as the last one on July 30, 2024. Over 60 participants from nationwide press offices were present, which illustrates the public interest in the topic. Many people are increasingly concerned about the effects of urban heat and the importance of green spaces near residential areas.

Criticism of technical solutions

Although technical solutions such as air conditioning are often cited as an answer to summer temperatures, the DUH questions them skeptically. Instead, greening is seen as the more effective solution for cooling cities and improving air quality. This is particularly important because socially disadvantaged groups are disproportionately affected by heat stress. Effective heat management could therefore be crucial for fairer urban development.

The data on heat stress and the recommendations derived from it were created by the company LUP GmbH on behalf of the DUH using remote sensing analyses. These were examined based on official data and the current census from 2022 as well as satellite data from the Copernicus program. The DUH now has Germany-wide statistics and rankings on the conditions of German cities, which should serve as a basis for future measures.

The challenges facing cities in Germany are enormous. The pressure to act is growing, and it appears that both political action and citizen engagement are needed to address the problems caused by extreme heat stress.