DUH Warns: More Than 1.5 Million Saxons Are Suffering From the Heat

More than 1.5 million people in Saxony are disproportionately affected by heat that is harmful to their health. This is according to the Heat Check conducted by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) in 68 Saxon municipalities with more than 10,000 residents. “Every city needs a binding master plan for heat protection,” said Barbara Metz, national executive director of the DUH. Every municipality must implement measures to increase green spaces and reduce impervious surfaces.

Leipzig, among others, ranked lowest

In addition to heat exposure, the assessment also took into account land sealing and the number of shade-providing trees. According to the assessment, Leipzig, Schkeuditz, Markranstädt, Eilenburg, and Wilsdruff fared the worst: They received a “red card” from the DUH for failing to adequately protect their residents from heat.

Summer with record-breaking temperatures—550 people died from the heat

Last summer in Saxony was one of the ten warmest since 1881 and set new heat records. The average temperature was 19.0 degrees—2.5 degrees above the long-term average, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). On June 28, a temperature of 41.5 degrees was reported in Bad Muskau in eastern Saxony—a new Saxon temperature record, according to the DWD. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), approximately 550 people had died as a result of the heat by mid-August, significantly more than in the previous ten years. 

Annaberg-Buchholz, Ebersbach-Neugersdorf, Löbau, Dippoldiswalde, Schwarzenberg/Erzgebirge, and Bischofswerda fared the best. Annaberg-Buchholz is the only city to achieve a tree canopy cover of at least 30 percent. This is considered a measure of how many shade-providing trees are present. The DUH highlights Dippoldiswalde, Bischofswerda, Zittau, Schwarzenberg/Erzgebirge, Weißwasser/Oberlausitz, Löbau, and Ebersbach-Neugersdorf for their progress in reducing impervious surfaces.

DUH: Municipalities Must Remove Paving and Replant Greenery

The majority of municipalities received a yellow card. However, the DUH emphasized that this should by no means be interpreted as a green light. In Dresden, Chemnitz, and Görlitz, the majority of the population lives in areas subject to extreme heat stress. The cities must remove impervious surfaces and plant greenery as quickly as possible, as well as protect their existing tree populations.

According to the DUH, nearly 130,000 trees have disappeared in Saxony in recent years. The DUH notes that trees are the most effective natural air conditioning system, especially in cities. Newly planted trees take decades before their shade-providing and cooling functions are fully realized.