Heat challenge: Federal government invests billions for cooler cities!

Heat challenge: Federal government invests billions for cooler cities!

As summer temperatures rise, the heat-related challenges facing our cities are becoming more and more urgent. This is not just about the summer of 2025, but about the future of our living spaces. Federal Construction Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) makes it clear that increased efforts against the heat are now essential. The heat of summer is particularly hard on older people and children, and they are sometimes unable to take the necessary measures to keep the room cool. Fulda info reports that more green spaces, parks as well as cooler corners and brighter house facades are required in order to significantly increase the quality of life.

In order to counteract climate change, the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB) is committed to comprehensive adaptation of urban structures. Cities should be supported in designing their buildings to be heat-adapted and in expanding urban green spaces. When building new houses, greater attention is being paid to sustainable materials such as wood, and attempts are being made to plant more trees and unseal areas in order to actively address the heat problem. BMWSB has already formulated seven essential suggestions for heat prevention that municipalities should support.

Suggestions for heat prevention

• Raum für mehr Grün schaffen.
• Leistungsfähige Freiraumsysteme mit Erholungsräumen und vernetzten Parks.
• Klimaaktive grüne Infrastruktur für Verschattung und Verdunstungskühlung.
• Innen- und Hinterhofbegrünung.
• Mehr Grün an Gebäuden.

However, the challenges are increasing - since the 1950s, the average number of hot days per year in Germany has tripled to 11.5. Forecasts show that Berlin can expect 20 to 35 hot days by the middle of the century if effective action is not taken to combat greenhouse gas emissions. National urban development policy highlights that the negative impact of heat affects not only the health but also the general well-being of the urban population. Measures to adapt are urgently needed, for example in urban planning and construction.

The need for clear heat protection plans and responsibilities is increasingly being demanded by the German Medical Association. Medical President Klaus Reinhardt demands that heat protection not only begins in doctors' offices and hospitals, but also in schools, care facilities, companies and private households. Children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and older people are particularly at risk. However, with the right measures and clever urban development, the heat resilience of Cologne's population should be increased.

So how do we ensure that everyone in Cologne doesn't have to suffer from the rising temperatures? Through the accelerated redesign efforts of cities, the expansion of green infrastructure and the development of sensible heat prevention strategies, it could be possible to create a more pleasant living environment for everyone. A good plan can make a heat problem a minor influence in everyday life. Let's get it done!