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Climate change strikes: heat waves cost Germany billions!
Increasing heat waves caused by climate change are increasingly putting a strain on health and the economy in Germany. Experts warn of high costs.
Climate change strikes: heat waves cost Germany billions!
Heat waves and extreme weather events are noticeably increasing in Germany and this not only has an impact on people's well-being, but also on the economy. According to t-online.de, the number of hot days will increase sharply by the year 2100. Depending on CO₂ emissions, the number could even double, triple or even quintuple. Especially in southern Germany, people could expect up to 25 hot days per year. Cities like Frankfurt, Hamburg and Mannheim are reinforcing this trend due to their heat island effects. In Frankfurt the number of hot days could increase from the current three to up to 22.
But what does this actually mean for the health effects? The perceived temperature, which is influenced by humidity, wind and radiation, plays a crucial role in health risk. Older people, the chronically ill and people who live in densely built-up areas are particularly at risk. This leads to increasing costs for the healthcare system and infrastructure. A study by Allianz Insurance estimates that healthcare spending in Europe could increase by 4.9 percent by 2025. For Germany, this would mean almost 25 billion euros in additional costs, which include both acute complaints and pre-existing illnesses and additional hospital stays.
Increasing health risks
Heat can lead to a spike in sick leave and a drop in productivity during the hot months. Between 2018 and 2020, statistics counted over 19,000 heat-related deaths in Germany. It is important to know that heat-related deaths are often not directly stated as to the cause of death, but often occur in connection with previous illnesses. An analysis by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) shows that increased mortality can be observed in hot weeks, especially among older people, which underlines how serious the situation is rki.de.
Just last year, on a global scale, four billion people experienced 30 additional days of heat compared to a world without climate change. Since the Heat Action Day 2024, Germany has recorded 50 hot days, 24 more than without the influences of climate change, as tagesschau.de reports. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are usually heavy sweating, a rapid pulse, headache and nausea. It is therefore important to take preventive measures: drink plenty of water, wear airy clothing and ventilate during cool nights.
Measures against the heat
Cities need to get creative to mitigate the effects of heat. The German Association of Cities has collected best practice examples for heat protection, and measures such as planting trees for cooling and setting up drinking fountains are becoming increasingly important. Using reflective paint on roofs could also help reduce indoor temperatures by 3 to 7 degrees. The Federal Ministry of Health's heat protection plan, which was presented in 2024, is another step in the right direction.
The challenges posed by climate change are also opportunities for creative and necessary change in urban planning and healthcare. If we take action now, we could not only adapt our lifestyles, but also improve the situation for future generations. The heat out there shows us urgently that we have to act - there really is something to be done.