Health expert Martin Herrmann says Germany is not sufficiently prepared for extreme heat. "While awareness of the danger of heat among the population has increased significantly," said the chair of the German Alliance on Climate Change and Health (KLUG) to the news agency AFP, "Germany is still poorly or not at all prepared for a heat disaster."
Studies have shown that in an extreme heat dome scenario in Germany, several tens of thousands of deaths are possible. Herrmann is therefore calling for heat protection to be enshrined as a binding component of disaster and crisis preparedness "in the same way as flood protection." A heat dome is a weather phenomenon in which heat becomes trapped as if under a giant dome, often for days at a time, with no means of escape.
"Heat is more of a silent death, it does not produce dramatic images, even though we are seeing massive damage," the expert said. Even as understanding of the need for heat protection has grown, he noted that "consistent implementation and investment" in protective measures remains absent, from urban development and greening initiatives to cooled rooms in care homes and schools.
"If we experience extreme heat, some care homes could become heat traps that need to be evacuated," Herrmann warned. There are currently no large cooled facilities where people could be accommodated in such a scenario. So far, only a small number of German districts have run exercises simulating such a disaster.
The German Alliance for Climate Change and Health is a network of organizations, associations, and experts from the health sector, founded in 2017. The association raises awareness of the far-reaching consequences of climate change for health.
As Germany faces soaring temperatures this week, it's crucial to take precautions. Read our expert tips on staying safe, hydrated, and cool during the heat wave.
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