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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Germany's heat wave sparks political debate over climate adaptation

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Germany is experiencing record-breaking heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, posing life-threatening risks to vulnerable populations in facilities lacking air conditioning.
  • Experts have long warned about rising temperatures in Germany due to climate change, exacerbated by urban development that seals soil and reduces natural cooling.
  • Political responsibility for climate adaptation is debated, with the Environment Minister suggesting federal states and municipalities hold primary responsibility, though federal support is being considered.

Germany is grappling with the severe consequences of record-breaking heatwaves, as temperatures soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) over the past weekend. These extreme conditions pose life-threatening risks, particularly for residents in retirement homes, nursing homes, and hospitals that lack adequate air conditioning.

Climate experts have been issuing persistent warnings about Germany's rising temperatures, a trend expected to continue in the coming years. Andreas Becker, a climate expert at the German Weather Service, highlighted this on Deutschlandfunk Radio (DLF). Compounding the issue is Germany's ongoing urban development, which sees approximately 50 hectares of natural land, equivalent to 70 soccer fields daily between 2021 and 2024, converted for residential, transportation, and commercial use. This sealing of soil prevents rainwater absorption, leading to increased flood risks, and reduces natural evaporation, intensifying urban heat.

The responsibility lies with the federal states and municipalities.

— Carsten SchneiderEnvironment Minister stating his view on who holds primary responsibility for climate adaptation.

The question of political responsibility for adapting to climate change and extreme temperatures is a point of contention. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider stated on public broadcaster ARD that the primary responsibility lies with federal states and municipalities, not the federal government in Berlin. He cited Germany's Basic Law as a prohibition against federal financial support for such initiatives.

However, Schneider did promise to discuss amending the Basic Law with coalition partners to enable greater federal involvement. He also pointed to the existing €500 billion infrastructure program, which has allocated around €100 billion ($114 billion) to federal states and municipalities for climate projects. Despite these efforts, many experts remain skeptical about Germany's ability to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets, even with robust climate policies, as the effects of global warming are expected to intensify.

For example, I cannot even provide financial support because Germany's Basic Law prohibits me from doing so.

— Carsten SchneiderEnvironment Minister explaining limitations on federal government support for climate adaptation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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