Erfurt: Heat alarm! How cities fight against summer heat
Erfurt: Heat alarm! How cities fight against summer heat
Erfurt, Deutschland - warmer temperatures and rising heat load - these are topics that not only affect the people in Erfurt. In the latest heat check in German environmental aid, the situation in Erfurt and other cities of Thuringia was carefully examined. The results show that Erfurt takes up the top in Thuringia with a heat-related index of 15.89, compared to other cities such as Gera (14.41), Weimar (14.39) and Jena (14.38) reports thuringia24 .
With an average surface temperature of 35 degrees Celsius between 2021 and 2024, the Thuringian state capital has reached a worrying record. The high seal is particularly striking: almost 45 percent of the city area are sealed, which further increases the heat load. In Germany, over 12 million people in similar urban areas such as Erfurt are exposed to extreme heat load, as the German Environmental Aid determines here .
measures against the heat
In view of this alarming situation, Erfurt has already taken measures. A "heat phone" has been set up to offer help for the population during heat waves. In addition, further drinking fountains and information about urban fountains are to be provided. In the neighboring town of Jena you even plan a support network for older people who live alone in order to support these particularly vulnerable groups of people in times of extreme heat.
Deutsche Environmental Aid also calls for legal minimum requirements for green spaces to reduce the heat loads. The heat-affair index, which was created for the first time this year, evaluates the heat conditions in 190 German cities and takes into account factors such as high temperatures, dense sealing and too little green spaces complements the DUH . Of the cities examined in 190, 31 received a red one, 131 a yellow and 28 a green card.
challenges and future developments
In general, there is a worrying trend: the frequency and intensity of heat waves has been continuously increasing since the 1970s. Forecasts indicate that extreme summer as in 2003, 2018, 2019 and 2022 could occur more frequently in the future. The health risk of extreme heat remains, even with a mild climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already recommended to create heat action plans after the heat waves of 2003 points out .Thuringia's state government and the municipalities have already treated the dangers of heat and extended a climate pact with investments of 27 million euros for climate protection. Future measures are urgently necessary to reduce the risk of the population. By the end of the year, a nationwide heat action plan should be available as an important step in view of the challenges of the coming years.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Erfurt, Deutschland |
| Quellen | |