Summer under pressure: joy or fear of the heat wave?

Summer under pressure: joy or fear of the heat wave?

Today, August 16, 2025, summer not only creates holiday feelings, but also raises questions. Christoph Quarch, bestselling author and philosopher, invites you every Friday to the “Breakfast Quarch” on the radio program SWR Aktuell. This week it's all about the question: Is summer still the joyful season it once was, or is it better to fear what it brings with it? Quarch artfully brings a bit of Italian tradition into the discussion: On August 15th, Italy celebrates “Ferragosto”, also known as the Assumption of Mary, which marks the highlight of the summer.

Ferragosto is more than just a holiday – it is a time for family celebrations and large feasts, a symbol of the “bella stagione”. But while millions in southern Europe enjoy the summer with sun and conviviality, many regions are plagued by darker thoughts. There are already fatalities in Spain due to forest fires fueled by temperatures above 40 degrees and strong winds. There are similar emergencies in Greece, where around 5,000 firefighters and over 30 firefighting aircraft are in action. But that's not all - people in Turkey and the Balkans are also experiencing devastating forest fires, which are accompanied by losses.

Climate change and its effects

Christoph Quarch emphasizes that philosophy is rarely concerned with seasons, although summer has often been described in romantic literature as a time of abundance and harvest. But the perception of summer has changed. Many people no longer live in agriculture, which leads to a distance from nature and thus a changed perspective on this time of year. Climate change contributes significantly to this threatening perception - hot days, drought and the increasing frequency of forest fires are devastating companions to our warm months. So people either react with an aversion to summer or simply ignore the worrying climate changes.

Amid these challenges, it is important to also find bright spots. And one of them is Yann Sommer, who recently caused a stir. The goalkeeper, born in Morges, Switzerland, has had a remarkable career. From his beginnings at Herrliberg and Concordia Basel, he ventured into the youth team of Basel in 2003, where he signed his first professional contract in 2005. Sommer quickly developed into a regular player.

Yann Sommer's path to success

• 2007: Ausleihe an Vaduz, Aufstieg in die Super League.
• 2014: Wechsel zu Borussia Mönchengladbach, wo er die Mannschaft wieder in die oberen Ligen führte.
• 2022: Wechsel zu Bayern München für 8 Millionen Euro.
• 2023: Beginn seiner Laufbahn bei Inter Mailand, mit dem er zuletzt die Serie A gewann und die Supercoppa Italiana sicherte.

Sommer confirmed his impressive skills with outstanding performances, including in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, ​​where he was celebrated as player of the match. Particularly notable was his penalty save against Kylian Mbappé at Euro 2020, one of the most memorable scenes of his career. Despite his successes, Sommer announced his retirement from the Swiss national team on August 19, 2024 - a decision that touched many fans.

While summer still promises joy and warmth for many, there are also critical voices that question the changing circumstances. It remains to be seen whether it has been possible to preserve the “bella stagione” in its perfection. As Quarch notes, people are being asked to reconsider their connection to nature and the seasons, perhaps to once again experience summer as the joyful time it once was.

So there's only one thing left to say about the latest developments and perspectives: stay tuned and keep your eyes open! And who knows, maybe with Yann Sommer we will find one more reason to look at the difficult times more positively.

[SWR Aktuell].