海角视频

Europe is experiencing increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, which have a significant impact on health, the environment and infrastructure.

This article examines the status of how municipalities and cities, specifically in Germany, deal with heatwaves, what measures the German federal government has taken or is planning, and how cities should be organised in the future in order to be better protected against heatwaves.

Statistics show that Europe is warming faster than any other region of the world. According to by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Europe has increased. Temperatures here have risen more than twice as fast as the global average over the past 30 years. In 2022, Europe experienced its warmest summer since weather records began. The high temperatures led to droughts, an above-average number of forest fires and thousands of heat deaths, predominantly among vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.

There is no standard definition for a heatwave. Generally speaking, a heatwave occurs when temperatures are unusually high for the region over several days and nights. Various health-related parameters are also often taken into account, such as humidity.

How local authorities and cities deal with heatwaves

In Germany, it is the responsibility of the federal states and local authorities to develop regionally customised heat measures and heat action plans as the measures to be taken must always be tailored to the specific local situation. In 2024 the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB) presented a in urban development and construction. This sets out how heat islands – usually聽metropolitan areas a lot hotter than the聽rural areas聽surrounding it – develop and how to avoid them. It summarises what is already being used by urban planners and聽what developments will be necessary in urban areas in the future to make cities liveable places even in summer.

Many German cities and municipalities have already taken measures to counteract the effects of heatwaves. These include the expansion of urban green spaces, the greening of roofs and fa莽ades and heat-adapted construction. Across a range of projects, 海角视频 develops solutions that encompass immediate, temporary solutions as well as fundamental, lasting changes to the urban fabric. Two such projects are:

• Neubrandenburg: The city desired a climate-responsive solution for a main square where events are often held in summer. An underground car park meant that no trees could be planted on-site. 海角视频 proposed a strategy consisting of mobile cooling elements that could be quickly put in place and then demounted when no longer in use. However, as part of this project, our expert team also devised a strategy for the transformation of central Neubrandenburg into a city that minimises car traffic, a proposal for a long-term intervention.
• Burscheid: The small town of Burscheid has a population of about 21,000 people, including a significant number of elderly residents. In warmer months, residents often suffer at urban hot spots. To increase Burscheid鈥檚 resilience to rising temperatures, 海角视频 developed a comprehensive, multi-step strategy for climate adaptation based on a scientific analysis of the town to identify urban heat islands and an extensive consultation with residents to understand the experience of living in Burscheid and moving through its spaces.聽A central part of 海角视频鈥檚 plan for Burscheid is an聽interactive online tool聽that allowed residents to identify hot spots themselves. Participants could then choose from a menu of solutions that could be introduced, including drinking fountains, misting systems, trees, shaded playgrounds and public toilets, and place a marker on a map of the town where they thought certain measures would be most effective. The plan formed the foundation of an inclusive decision-making process for the people of Burscheid, one that considers lived experience of the environment.

Other examples from various cities show how different and creative the approaches can be:

• Hanover: A 鈥楾iny Forest鈥� is being planted according to the Miyawaki principle to reduce urban heat pollution. This method aims to create self-sustaining, bio-diverse ecosystems by planting native trees and shrubs.
• Kassel: The city donates climate-adapted trees to property owners to add 10.000 new trees and strengthen the city鈥檚 green infrastructure.
• Hamelin: A walk-in, 鈥榗limate box鈥� offers citizens an oasis of cooling in the centre of the city. Plants, shade and water mist make the 5x7m box up to 12掳C cooler.

Germany鈥檚 climate goals

Regional heat action strategies can only be effective in the future if on a national level long-term plans underpinning them are aimed at climate mitigation. They must go hand in hand. The importance to adapting to a changing climate and the unavoidable impacts, that are already experienced in many regions are being recognised in Germany, Europe and beyond. 聽In Germany, the guiding principle is the German Adaptation Strategy (Deutsche Anpassungsstrategie) and the Climate Adaptation Act (Klimaanpassungsgesetz).

In 2024 the German government approved the , which focuses on proactive measures to address climate change impacts. The strategy includes, for the first time, clear and measurable targets for climate adaptation, enabling effective implementation and monitoring.

In total, the strategy contains 33 goals and 45 sub-goals in various fields of action that are to be achieved by 2030 or 2050. The targets and measures are reviewed every four years and adjusted if necessary. For example, there should be

• more cooling green spaces or other sun protection against heat
• adaptation of river courses and moors against flooding so that they can better absorb large amounts of water
• an improvement in the technical transmission of warning messages for a functioning warning system

The aim is that municipalities expand and improve their climate adaptation measures and that by 2030, concepts should be available for 80 per cent of municipalities.

Urban planning for to combat extreme heat

Comprehensive urban planning measures are needed to make cities more resilient towards extreme heat鈥� something our consultants and engineers at 海角视频 have implemented in several European projects. Examples can be found in the Horizon Europe聽funded UP2030聽project, the Burscheid Heat Action Plan and the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld project. We are actively addressing the challenges posed by urban heat and climate change by incorporating key design strategies within our project work:

Urban heat island mitigation

• Implementing strategies like cool pavements, cool roofs and expanding green spaces by planting trees and creating park areas to reduce heat absorption and retention in cities. This also includes incorporating water features and sustainable drainage systems where possible to manage heat and improve urban cooling.
• Developing 鈥渃ool corridors鈥� and climate-resilient bus shelters to provide shade and comfort in public spaces.
• Integrating water features and fountains to increase humidity and provide cooling. Water features can also serve as recreational areas and enhance the cityscape.
• Implementing specific building designs that enhance natural ventilation and cooling.

Climate vulnerability assessments

• Conducting assessments to identify vulnerable populations and infrastructure, focusing on factors such as age, income, and health conditions.

Holistic and multi-disciplinary approaches

• Offering services that include micro-climate analysis, thermal comfort modelling and community engagement to develop specific heat action plans. Utilising Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify heat hotspots plan interventions effectively.
• Emphasising the importance of decarbonisation and net-zero targets to mitigate the built environment鈥檚 impact on the climate.

Equity considerations

• Addressing the uneven impacts of extreme heat on different social, economic, and age groups, ensuring that interventions consider the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

The increasing heatwaves in Germany require a coordinated approach at all levels. Cities and local authorities are already implementing a wide range of measures, while the federal government is providing support through information campaigns and improved warning systems. Future urban planning must increasingly focus on heat protection in order to safeguard the quality of life in urban areas.