Campaigners call for better climate adaptation in Germany’s "asphalt desert" schoolyards

Campaigners from the NGOs German Environmental Aid (DUH) and German Children’s Aid (DKHW) have jointly called for the implementation of more climate adaptation measures in schoolyards to cope with excess heat, extreme rainfall and drought. The groups are calling on the federal government to produce a set of minimum standards for climate-proofing schoolyards and school playgrounds, including setting targets for shaded areas and green space, as well as ensuring that enclosed areas are broken up to allow excess heat, rain, or wind to dissipate.

This comes in a year marked by extreme weather events in Germany, which together are expected to cause seven billion euros in damages, according to the German Insurance Association. “It is appalling that most of the more than 32,000 schoolyards in Germany still consist of grey asphalt deserts,” DUH head Sascha Müller-Kraenner said. “There are around nine million school-age children and young people in Germany. They should be able to learn outside and relax during their school break instead of being exposed to the oppressive heat of their schoolyard.”

The campaigners are also urging citizens to submit a petition to their city demanding green school playgrounds be implemented in the short term. “Pupils need naturally designed outdoor spaces that allow them to spend time and even have lessons in the fresh air, in a green and stimulating environment,” DKHW director Holger Hoffman said. “We need schoolyards with a recreational character across the board, from which not only the pupils but also nature will benefit significantly.”

Both Germany and Europe are underprepared for the impacts of climate change, despite being the fastest-warming continent, warming twice as fast as the global average over the last 30 years. Adaptation to the already unavoidable impacts of climate change is necessary to save lives, and reduce economic damage from extreme weather events. The German federal government, states and municipalities are all legally bound to draw up climate assessments and implement adaptation measures, since a climate adaptation law was passed on 1 July.

According to a series of regional citizen dialogues hosted by the environment ministry (BMUV) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), 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. With a new urban heat protection strategy, the buildings ministry (BMWSB) aims to better protect the country's cities against a warming climate by ensuring more urban greening and putting up parasols in hotspots.