Bavaria relies on heat protection: This is how cities want to protect their citizens!

Bavaria relies on heat protection: This is how cities want to protect their citizens!

When the sun beats down and temperatures in Bavaria climb above 30 degrees, cities are faced with the challenge of protecting their citizens from the heat. In recent years, many municipalities in Bavaria, including Straubing, Nuremberg and Bayreuth, have developed effective heat protection plans to counteract this threat. The spokesman for the Bavarian Association of Cities reports that the first measures have already been implemented, and Health Minister Judith Gerlach (CSU) emphasizes that the focus is on particularly vulnerable groups such as older people, infants and people with previous illnesses. This is particularly important because high temperatures lead to increased heating in urban areas with a lot of traffic and sealed surfaces. There is more information about this in a report from stern.de.

The discussion about the most appropriate measures is in full swing. The Greens in the state parliament sharply criticize the state government for its lack of support and funding in the areas of climate protection and heat prevention. Meanwhile, cities are working on individual heat action plans that include various local measures. A good example is Munich, where interactive maps of drinking water fountains and shady places such as parks and green spaces are provided. The city currently operates 90 drinking water fountains, with the goal of increasing this to 100 by the end of the year.

Examples from other cities

A heat action plan was introduced in Nuremberg in 2022, which includes, among other things, a heat telephone for seniors, which can be reached at temperatures of 30 degrees. Long-term construction measures should also take climate changes into account. The focus is on fresh air corridors and permeable floor coverings. Würzburg has also drawn up a heat action plan for 2023 and is considered one of the warmest cities in southern Germany - measures to reduce the effects of heat are of central importance here.

A new heat action plan is being presented in Ingolstadt, which includes 24 measures. The focus is primarily on low-barrier and low-threshold design in order to reach broader sections of the population.

Background information and forecasts

The need for heat action plans is undisputed, especially given the increase in heat waves in Germany since the 1970s. According to the European Environment Agency, this trend is likely to increase in the coming years. The forecasts promise hot summers similar to those in 2003, 2018, 2019 and 2022. In order to meet the challenges of the future, more and more federal states and municipalities are working on their own heat action plans, as the Federal Ministry of Health confirms.

A central aspect of these plans are recommendations for action that have been developed since 2017 based on WHO guidelines. The recommendations include, among other things, developing new concepts for urban design, promoting the creation of more urban green spaces and launching appropriate information campaigns.

The developments in Bavarian cities show how important it is to act with foresight so that citizens are well prepared for the hot days. Continuing to advance the political and social discourse remains essential.