Strategies Germany Employs to Combat Severe Heat and Climate Change Adversity

Strategies Germany Employs to Combat Severe Heat and Climate Change Adversity

Germany Tackles Heatwaves: Public Education, Support, and Climate Protection

In recent weeks, Germany has been grappling with a series of heatwaves, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 F) in early July, and some areas approaching 40 C. This has led to increased concern about the impact of extreme heat on public health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with illnesses, and outdoor workers.

Massive wildfires occurred in the Ghorischheide area of northern Saxony, burning for several days and forcing some evacuations as a precaution. Climate change is believed to be the reason for these early high temperatures, a fact that has prompted calls for more effective climate protection measures.

The German government has taken several steps to protect its citizens from the heat. The federal government's NINA app, which provides warnings for forest fires, floods, and weather conditions, including heat waves, has been used by 12 million people since its development 10 years ago. The app has recently added warnings from the police.

The German Health Ministry supports informing the public about heat risks and protective behaviors through resources like hitzeservice.de, a dedicated heat service website launched in 2023. This site offers extensive guidance especially for the elderly and those with health issues. Media advisories encourage people to stay indoors during peak heat, stay hydrated, wear protective hats, and seek shade.

Special attention is needed for vulnerable groups who cannot avoid heat exposure or must wear heavy protective gear, such as construction and agricultural workers, roadside assistants, and socially disadvantaged urban residents who often have less access to green spaces and cooling options. Organizations like the Red Cross have set up climate refuges—air-conditioned spaces that offer cool shelter and social support to elderly and mobility-reduced individuals. They also provide outreach services to help the vulnerable stay cool and safe.

Authorities could enforce and promote measures to reduce heat exposure for outdoor workers. This could include adjusting working hours to cooler parts of the day, providing access to shade and plenty of water, and ensuring breaks and medical supervision, especially in sectors requiring heavy or protective clothing.

Increasing green spaces in cities and improving urban cooling (e.g., planting trees, creating shaded areas) are important structural measures to help socially disadvantaged areas that suffer more from the urban heat island effect. The German government is also addressing the impact of heatwaves on critical infrastructure such as railways to ensure resilience amid rising temperatures.

Experts and advocacy groups stress the importance of effective climate protection policies to mitigate increasing heatwave frequency and intensity, as prolonged or repeated heatwaves significantly raise health risks and costs. Without such action, summers risk becoming dangerous for large parts of the population.

Insurance company Allianz calculated a 4.9% increase in health care costs across the European Union during heatwaves in 2025, amounting to about €25 billion ($29.4 billion) for Germany. Doctors have warned against trivializing hot weather, with Peter Bobbert, president of the Berlin Medical Association, warning that heat can lead to heart and circulatory failure, especially for the ill or elderly.

Kerstin Blum, managing director of the Gesunde Erde - Gesunde Menschen foundation, calls for effective climate protection to prevent summer from becoming dangerous for many people. No new measures to better protect people from extreme heat have been announced by the German government following the first heat wave in early July.

In hospitals, elderly care facilities, and homeless shelters, workers are busier than usual on hot days, ensuring people have enough water and sun protection. Road construction workers found it difficult to avoid the heat during the early July heatwave, with production reducing by half.

The Robert Koch Institute is Germany's main public health body, and it continues to monitor the health impacts of the ongoing heatwave. Despite the challenges, Germany's approach involves public education, targeted support for at-risk groups, workplace safety regulations, urban cooling efforts, and climate protection efforts to reduce future heat risks. These measures collectively aim to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths, which already numbered about 6,000 in 2023-2024, comparable to traffic fatalities in that period.

1. The German government is considering enforcing and supporting measures to reduce heat exposure for outdoor workers, such as adjusting working hours, providing access to shade and water, and ensuring breaks and medical supervision.
2. Germany's Health Ministry is partners with organizations like the Red Cross to establish climate refuges—air-conditioned spaces that offer cool shelter and social support to vulnerable individuals during heatwaves.
3. Experts and advocacy groups, including the Gesunde Erde - Gesunde Menschen foundation, stress the need for effective climate protection policies to mitigate the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, which significantly raise health risks and costs.
4. In response to the health impact of heatwaves, the German government is addressing critical infrastructure issues, such as improving the resilience of railways to rising temperatures.
5. The insurance company Allianz has calculated a 4.9% increase in health care costs across Europe during heatwaves, amounting to about €25 billion ($29.4 billion) for Germany alone.
6. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's main public health body, continues to monitor the health impacts of heatwaves and supports public education initiatives to help citizens understand and protect themselves from heat risks.

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