Germany has experienced a series of extreme heat-related conditions, which have significantly impacted public health, agriculture, and the environment. These conditions include record-breaking temperatures, prolonged droughts, wildfires, and flooding.
“Temperatures that can harm health have become more common in Germany. Six out of the eleven most extreme heat waves between 1951 and 2015 occurred after 2000. Since 1990, what were previously considered hot summers have become normal, with mean temperatures across Germany now well above the average of 30 years ago.”
Moreover, Germany experienced several intense heatwaves over the last decade as well, particularly notable in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023, as can be seen in the graph below of Temperature Anomalies in Germany for every year since 1881—having as a reference time temperatures from 1981 until 2010—with data provided by Germany’s national meteorological service (Deutsche Wetterdienst DWD).
Source: Deutsche Wetterdienst DWD
Data from Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) also shows that “heat waves in major cities have increased in intensity as well as frequency since the 1980s. Before the 1990s, extreme and long heat waves (14 days with at least 30°C) were relatively rare in Germany, but now they affect major cities every two to four years.”
Already in 2018’s DWD “Nationaler Klimareport” National Weather Report, it was conveyed that “the year 2018, with an annual average temperature of 10.5°C, was the warmest year on record and was more than two degrees above the long-term annual average of the reference period 1961–1990.” Moreover, although the average temperature in 2019 wasn’t as extreme, its summer saw temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) in some regions (“40,5C in Geilenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia state), which would top the previous high of 40.3 C recorded in Bavaria in 2015”, as reported by the Deutsche Welle); leading to increased incidences of heat stroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular issues, particularly among the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
“There is limited data on heat-related mortality in Germany. However, during each of the previous heat waves – in 2003, 2006, and 2015 – more than 6,000 deaths were attributed to heat. Limited data from 2018 shows that almost 500 people died of heat-related causes in Berlin alone”, according to Human Rights Watch. According to a study from the Robert Koch Institute, trying to estimate deaths caused by the heat between 2002 and 2015, “a clear influence of heat exposure can be identified. The increase in mortality was particularly evident in the regions in the south and the middle of Germany, and somewhat weaker in the north.” Based on the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change from 2020, “Germany may be the third-most-affected country – after China and India – in terms of heat-related mortality for people age 65 and over”.
Prolonged droughts have also plagued Germany, severely impacting its agriculture. The droughts of 2018 and 2019 were particularly harsh, causing significant crop failures and financial losses for farmers. The northeastern regions of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt were among the hardest hit. Crop yields for staples such as wheat and barley dropped by as much as 30-50%, resulting in higher food prices and economic strain on rural communities. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the agricultural sector faced losses amounting to billions of euros during these drought periods, and some 8000 farmers were forced to apply for emergency aid due to a record dry period in 2018 for instance, according to DW, DW.
Extreme heat and drought conditions have increased the risk of wildfires. In 2019, large wildfires burned thousands of hectares of forest in Brandenburg, causing extensive environmental damage and forcing evacuations. Similarly, flooding has become more frequent and severe. The 2021 floods in the Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia regions were catastrophic, resulting in over 180 deaths and billions of euros in damages. These floods highlighted the vulnerability of both urban and rural areas to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. Source: Copernicus, BMCPublic Health
Germany has implemented a range of policies and programs to mitigate the impacts of extreme summer weather conditions, but these seem insufficient and incipient.
These initiatives focus on both prevention and response, involving significant financial investments and coordinated efforts across various levels of government and sectors. Heat action plans have been developed in several cities and states, focusing on protecting vulnerable populations during heat waves. These plans include public awareness campaigns, the establishment of cooling centers, and guidelines for healthcare providers to identify and treat heat-related illnesses. For example, Berlin has implemented measures to ensure that elderly care facilities have air conditioning and sufficient hydration resources. Nonetheless, a recent study from the Journal of Public Health finds that “Fifty-one cities have implemented measures to protect health from heat events. Forty-one cities integrated such measures into concepts, and only one city formulated an HHAP—large cities, in particular, published measures. Long-term measures proved most common, for example, improved building envelope insulation and urban greening. Other than advice on individual behavior, hardly any acute heat health measures are being taken.”
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) have been instrumental in these efforts, funding and coordinating various initiatives. The “NatHAP project,” launched in 2023, is a key example of these efforts. It aimed at designing a national heat action plan by analyzing technical and legal aspects to ensure effective health protection during heat waves, which seem still incipient (adelphi).
Moreover, “Human Rights Watch reviewed climate adaptation plans for the federal government, all 16 federal states, and the country’s 11 most populous cities, to determine whether they incorporated pregnant people as a group vulnerable to heat-related health issues. The analysis found that the definition of risk groups is not universal and that these plans largely fail to include the needs of those who are pregnant during extreme heat, indicating that their needs are unlikely to be addressed. While efforts to help people adapt to climate change will benefit everyone vulnerable to heat, more awareness and targeted action are needed to address the negative effects of extreme heat on pregnancy health, Human Rights Watch found.”
“Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit (KLUG), an alliance of health care professionals, said that Germany’s heat preparedness has systemic shortcomings. According to KLUG, since Germany is less accustomed to hot temperatures, the population has less experience staying safe during heat waves.”
Germany has taken various measures to address the impact of drought on its agriculture sector. To address drought-related agricultural impacts, Germany provides financial assistance to farmers through disaster relief funds and insurance subsidies, primarily managed by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The BMEL offers grants and low-interest loans to farmers affected by droughts. Additionally, research initiatives are underway to develop drought-resistant crop varieties and improve water management practices. These efforts are designed to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector against the increasing frequency of droughts due to climate change. For example, the Drought Monitor from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research provides detailed information and resources on drought conditions and their impacts on agriculture.
In response to the increasing risk of wildfires, Germany—in the frame of EU legislation—has invested in enhanced forest management and fire prevention programs, such as the website brennpunkt-wald.de, financed by the BMEL and the Ministry for Environment and aiming to educate the youth. These include increased funding for forest thinning, controlled burns, and establishing rapid-response firefighting units. The government has also launched reforestation projects to restore areas damaged by fires.
Germany has significantly invested in flood protection infrastructure. This includes the construction and reinforcement of dikes, the creation of retention basins, and the restoration of natural floodplains. The UBA (Umwelt Bundesamt), the German environmental entity, coordinates these efforts, following EU mandates. UBA, UBA. The Federal Water Resources Act mandates municipalities develop flood risk management plans and implement measures to reduce flood risks. For instance, the city of Cologne has constructed advanced flood barriers and an early warning system to mitigate flood impacts.
The costs of these policies and programs are substantial. For instance, the German government allocated over €30 billion for recovery and reconstruction following the 2021 floods. Funding for heat action plans, agricultural support, and wildfire prevention runs into hundreds of millions of euros annually. Implementation involves collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, with support from scientific institutions and non-governmental organizations.
The effectiveness of these measures varies. Heat action plans have proven effective in reducing heat-related mortality rates. Agricultural support programs have provided crucial relief to farmers, though long-term sustainability remains a challenge. Enhanced forest management and fire prevention efforts have reduced the incidence of large wildfires. Flood protection measures have mitigated flood impacts, though the increasing severity of flooding continues to pose challenges. Continuous monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation of these policies are essential to improving their effectiveness.
In conclusion, while Germany faces significant challenges due to extreme summer weather conditions driven by climate change, it has implemented various policies and programs to mitigate these impacts. The effectiveness of these measures is evident in some areas. However, ongoing adaptation and investment are crucial to addressing the evolving nature of climate-related threats, especially on the public health front, which is still insufficient.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Germany Country Manager Katherine Cote.