Comment on the heatwave: This summer is our last warning

One thing we must be clear about this summer when sweat is pouring down our brows. When we flee to the shade in 39-degree heat because the sun is slowly burning into our skin. When the heat envelops us like a cocoon, almost taking our breath away. These temperatures are not normal. They are a dangerous reminder that we are failing miserably in climate protection.

"We used to have days this hot too," some might object. True. But in the past, there were only a handful of days that exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. Today, 30 degrees Celsius is the new normal in summer. Last year, there were an average of about 12.5 days in this country where temperatures of this kind and even higher were recorded.

What's threatening this year is still unclear. However, initial climate models predict a much too warm summer, late summer, and early autumn. Spring was already above average warm and dry. The damage is visible everywhere: brown lawns, dried-up riverbeds, increased risk of forest fires, crop failures. It's hard to imagine what will happen if this drought continues—or worsens.

Of course, we can enjoy the summer temperatures, but we must not ignore the climate crisis. completely ignore. It's undeniable that we owe the high temperatures to an ongoing catastrophe. The earth is heating up at an unprecedented rate—Germany alone has already warmed by 2.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. Therefore, heatwaves will become more frequent in the future, and they will also become even more intense.

This weakens our economy because labor productivity declines. There were almost 93,000 heat-related sick days in Germany in 2023. At the same time, the heat makes people sick, even killing them. Around 1,400 people have to be treated in German hospitals each year for heat-related health problems such as heatstroke. According to the Robert Koch Institute, around 3,000 people died as a result of high temperatures in 2023 and 2024. The warmer the earth gets, the more people are likely to fall victim to the heat.

That's why we must be clear: climate protection means protecting against heat. This is a global undertaking – for example, by countries ceasing to release climate-damaging greenhouse gases. But every individual can also contribute. For example, with fresh air corridors in cities, green spaces, green roofs and facades, and unsealed surfaces – all of this cools sustainably and is good for the climate. But we also have to adapt to the heat. Even if all greenhouse gas emissions suddenly ceased, the Earth would not automatically become cooler. Heat remains an important issue, and more people need to be made aware of it to prevent illness and death.

We can no longer ignore the reality of the climate crisis. We still have a chance to counteract it. But: "We still have a lot to do," UN climate chief Simon Stiell had to admit resignedly after preparations for the World Climate Conference had concluded, without any significant progress.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, in which the world agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. A goal we are currently light years away from achieving. Yet, given the heat we are already experiencing, it is more important than ever. Without stronger climate protection ambitions, this summer will only be a foretaste of the impending hot spell.