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Heat wave threatens millions: Cities urgently need to become greener now!
Offenbach am Main suffers from extreme heat stress. The heat impact index shows an urgent need for action to create more green spaces.
Heat wave threatens millions: Cities urgently need to become greener now!
The extreme heat in German cities is a burning issue that affects over 12 million people. A recently published heat check for 190 German cities assesses heat stress and shows alarming results: 31 cities were classified as “red”, including Frankfurt am Main, which came in a worrying fifth place. Around 60 percent of the population lives in areas exposed to high heat, while temperatures rise above 36 degrees and 50 percent of the urban area is sealed. Only 2.6 percent are covered with green spaces, as fr.de reports.
In a nationwide ranking, the factors surface temperature and population density are taken into account to create the heat impact index (HBI). Cities like Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Worms in the south show particularly worrying values. In contrast, northern German cities such as Kiel, Wilhelmshaven and Flensburg receive a “green card” for better heat management. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) demands that protection from heat should be given just as high a priority as infrastructural measures or housing construction.
Demand for more greenery in cities
The DUH advocates for legal requirements to increase green spaces. Studies show that one of the most effective ways to combat urban heat is through urban greening. This not only has positive effects on temperature regulation, but also improves air quality and increases the quality of life of residents. Green spaces reduce heat islands, lower surface temperatures and promote biodiversity. Plants are essential because they absorb pollutants and produce oxygen, as klima-wissen.de explains.
In addition to calling for more green spaces, the DUH recommends being skeptical about technical solutions such as air conditioning. While these are helpful in short-term cooling, they do not contribute to the long-term improvement of the urban environment.
The role of citizens
Citizens are called upon to actively campaign for more heat protection in their cities. Online petitions bring concerns directly to decision-makers. With simple commitment, many people can make a contribution to improving the quality of life in their cities.
Overall, the new heat check shows how important strategic planning and implementation of urban green spaces is in order to be well prepared for the hot summers to come.
The challenges posed by climate change are great, but with a good concept and the support of the population it could be possible to make our urban landscapes more lively and livable again. Let us hope that those responsible have a good hand and give the necessary change the necessary impetus.
The analysis and the associated data are based on remote sensing analyses, official data and the current census from 2022, which were created by LUP GmbH for the DUH. This information was presented, among other things, at a press conference in July 2024, where the media voices were loud in favor of the environmentally relevant issue, as lup-umwelt.de summarizes.