German citizens call for more urban greening to combat summer heat

Citizens expect the German government to take decisive action against the consequences of climate change, and are calling for the greening of inner cities to counter increasing heat, as well as clear regulations for groundwater extraction, according to a series of regional citizen dialogues hosted by the environment ministry (BMUV) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). The events confirmed that people already feel affected by the consequences of climate change, and want to contribute to solutions, said UBA head Dirk Messner. “They want cooled public spaces in hot weather, but also better information about the risks” of a warming climate, Messner said. He added there was also demand for “a green, lively living environment and climate-adapted buildings”, adding that participants showed a high willingness for community involvement. “This is a great opportunity to implement climate adaptation locally,” Messner added.

The citizens involved in the discussions stressed the importance of being able to work, learn and do business protected from extreme weather conditions. They also said that the transport infrastructure, especially public transport and railways, must function reliably during extreme weather events and heat waves. At five separate events throughout the country, more than 300 people developed ideas and recommendations for climate adaptation over two days. The results of these citizen dialogues are supposed to contribute to the government’s new climate adaptation strategy, which is due by the end of the year.