Leipzig is burning: Greens demand competition against heat and sealing!

Leipzig is burning: Greens demand competition against heat and sealing!

The increasing temperatures in German cities are causing problems for many citizens, and Leipzig is certainly no exception. According to a recent report by the Leipzig Internet newspaper On June 12th, Leipzig was named the hottest city in Saxony in the heat check by German Environmental Aid (DUH). Over 50% of Leipzig's population is affected by extreme heat, which is exacerbated by the city's high degree of sealing.

On particularly hot days, temperatures reach a remarkable 35.43 degrees Celsius, which puts Leipzig just at the top of the heat-stressed cities. Especially in areas close to the city center, the sealing of the surfaces is high, which significantly contributes to the heat development. Nicole Schreyer, the environmental policy spokeswoman for the Greens, emphasizes that this massive burden primarily affects vulnerable groups. However, a heat action plan that has currently been adopted is considered by many to be inadequate. There is a clear call for more unsealing and greening of the city.

Urban Heat: A Growing Problem

The general trend towards sealing surfaces increases the heat risks. The DUH Heat Check 2025 sheds further light on this problem for over 190 cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. According to the German environmental aid Over 12 million people in urban areas are exposed to extreme heat. Some cities such as Mannheim and Ludwigshafen have a shocking 88-91% of their population in highly polluted areas. This not only leads to complaints about the quality of life, but also around 3,000 people in Germany die every year due to the consequences of extreme heat.

The DUH calls for mandatory minimum green areas for public spaces and properties and draws attention to the need to make cities resilient to heat. Questions about cooling and ensuring tolerable living conditions are central issues that need to be addressed more closely in the future. Also that one Report on the National Urban Development Policy addresses the fact that heat stress continues to increase due to climate change and that immediate adaptation measures are required.

Cheers to green design

There is already movement towards change in Leipzig. The Greens in the city council have applied for an unsealing competition to motivate the population to take part. Tobias Peter, the leader of the Green Party, calls for a rethink: The trend towards sealing must be stopped. With €4 million earmarked for climate adaptation measures in the upcoming budget, there is an opportunity to move the city towards a greener and cooler future.

A funding program to support nature-based solutions should also help to promote unsealing and greening measures. The “Plastering” competition, inspired by initiatives in the Netherlands and Hamburg, will help unseal areas and improve the quality of life for Leipzig residents.

Leipzig shows how important the issues of heat and urban design are. The next steps must now be taken boldly so that future generations can live in a livable and cool city. A rethink is necessary – for the environment, health and all of our well-being.