Heat protection in Berlin: Mobilize against the climate crisis together!

Heat protection in Berlin: Mobilize against the climate crisis together!

Berlin, Deutschland - The increasing temperatures and the associated health problems due to extreme heat waves are a central topic of current research. Leonie Reuter, a research assistant at the disaster research center of the Free University of Berlin, explains in an interview that her work is particularly focused on the effects of climate change, with a clear focus on dealing with heat folder in urban rooms. Civil society heat protection plays a crucial role. This includes initiatives of associations and informal groups that contribute to the reduction of health and social consequences.

Examples of such initiatives are heat sponsorships for seniors, the organization of city gardens and the voluntary water distribution in heat -planned areas. Social resilience, which enables communities to cope with solidarity, is strengthened by the mutual support and networking of these groups. Despite existing programs and initiatives in Berlin, Reuter emphasizes that they are often locally and fragmented, which restricts effectiveness.

growing challenges

In 2025, the state of Berlin announced a nationwide heat action plan. However, there is a lack of the necessary personnel and financial means to ensure a comprehensive implementation. Research also shows that heat -related health risks are often underestimated. Older people, toddlers and homeless people are particularly vulnerable groups, but ultimately the entire population is affected. An increased awareness of the dangers of extreme heat is therefore urgently required.

The Klug initiative is committed to improving health -related heat protection in Germany. She advises institutions of health and social work as well as municipalities about suitable heat protection measures. The formation of local heat protection allies and the networking of civil society actors such as Health for Future is also supported. In addition, information portals for health professions are set up in order to promote exchange with experts and the training of the specialists. This commitment is of crucial importance to enable an effective answer to the challenges of the heat in urban areas.

climate consequences and adaptation strategies

In order to effectively counter the climate sequence, the use of specialized climate information is required. The Environmental Office carries out projects that use climate models to use precisely To create forecasts about future climatic changes. Both historical and future climate data are analyzed to derive robust and significant trends. This data is crucial for the development of adaptation strategies that specifically respond to the needs of the respective region.

As part of this research, various models are used to simulate microclimatic conditions in cities and identify hotspots of climate change. These findings can be used to develop targeted measures to improve urban infrastructure and social heat protection.