Heat waves in Saxony: Cities are preparing with new action plans!

Heat waves in Saxony: Cities are preparing with new action plans!

Summers in Germany are getting hotter, and the effects are particularly noticeable in the cities. As temperatures rise, the health risks for the population also increase. This is the reality that Saxony's major cities are increasingly having to deal with. In this context, the Climate Adaptation Act has required municipalities to draw up heat action plans since July 2022. These are intended to help get the consequences of extreme summer heat under control. Leipzig was the first city to adopt such a plan in April 2023, which includes innovative measures such as heat warnings, a “refreshment map” with cool places, drinking fountains and water playgrounds. Groups in particular need of protection, such as homeless people and small children, are the focus of the efforts Süddeutsche reports that ....

The issue of heat is also being addressed seriously in Dresden. The city published the first heat manual in Germany in 2023, which offers valuable information about the city's climate and tips for protection on hot days. This manual is part of the “HeatResilientCity II” project, which is testing heat protection measures in Gorbitz, such as the desealing of areas and the renovation of residential buildings from the 1980s. The goal here is to reduce the temperatures in affected rooms by up to 3.2 degrees. The findings from these measures will in future be incorporated into a comprehensive heat action plan for the whole of Dresden, which will be presented after the summer Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that....

Heat action plans and their importance

Heat action plans are considered essential to counteract the increasing heat waves, which have shown an increasing trend in Germany since the 1970s. These plans are intended not only to define short-term measures, but also to develop long-term strategies to protect the health of the population. The WHO already recommended the need for such plans after the extreme heat wave in the summer of 2003. The European Environment Agency expects the frequency, duration and intensity of heat waves to continue to increase in the coming years. Urban areas are particularly affected, as they often overheat due to dense development and a lack of green space. An online survey currently shows that many municipalities are already dealing with the issue, but only a few have implemented concrete plans Federal Environment Agency reports that....

Chemnitz is also on the way to developing a heat action plan. The specialist section is already available and addresses the high heat load in districts such as Zentrum, Sonnenberg and Lutherviertel. It is recognized here that the dense development and the lack of green spaces lead to increased heating. The city plans to develop concrete measures as part of a broad coordination process to better protect residents from the heat. This is particularly important, after all, there are already forecasts for extremely hot summers in the coming years, similar to those in 2018, 2019 and 2022. The German Weather Service and other institutions warn of persistent heat periods and an increasing health risk Süddeutsche reports that ….

Also take a look at the weather forecasts

And while the cities are making their plans, a new heat wave is heading towards Germany in July. Although the temperatures are unlikely to reach the extreme values ​​of over 40 degrees that have already been set, highs of up to 39 degrees are expected. These weather extremes not only affect Germany, but almost all of Europe, where drought and heat are already leaving their mark. The forecasts show that we have to prepare for a challenging summer period. The risk of forest fires is increasing, and the drought in many regions is further exacerbating the situation Wetter.com warns of....