Nearly 1,500 Heat-Related Deaths in Rhineland-Palatinate Since 2018 – Doctors Demand Climate Article in the Basic Law

Demand for a Climate Article in the Basic Law

In this context, President of the German Medical Association Reinhardt called for a binding climate article in the Basic Law. "Wir brauchen eine dauerhafte Finanzierung der Anpassungsmaßnahmen und klare Zuständigkeiten, damit Hitzeschutz nicht vom Wetter abhängt", said Reinhardt. The German Medical Congress had previously adopted a corresponding resolution.

The President of the Rhineland-Palatinate Medical Association, Christian Schulz, also supported the demand. He told the media that heat protection in medical practices, care facilities, and schools must long since have become standard. This would require investments in air-conditioned rooms, staff training, and municipal heat warning systems.

Municipalities Under Pressure

The Chairman of the Hartmannbund, Spiegler, had previously pointed out the need for action in the Rheinische Post. He called for permanent funding and advocated anchoring climate protection as a shared responsibility in the Basic Law. Only in this way could federal states and municipalities be held accountable in the long term.

According to the RKI, heat exposure is considered a significant health risk, particularly for people over 65, the chronically ill, and those who work outdoors. Studies show that the number of heat-related hospital admissions spikes during hot summers. Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the particularly affected federal states, as many locations experience temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius for several days during hot summers.

Nationwide Debate and Outlook

In municipalities such as Cologne and other major cities in the region, so-called heat protection plans have been developed in recent years. They include, among other measures, cool public spaces, drinking water fountains, warning apps, and targeted outreach services for elderly people. Experts emphasize, however, that these plans have so far been implemented only in patchwork fashion.

At the federal level, President of the Bundesrat Bovenschulte had called on the federal government to grant the states more time to participate in important legislative projects. The demand is part of a broader debate on strengthening federalism, but according to observers, it also touches on questions of climate protection, as many adaptation measures can only take effect through the interaction of the federal government, states, and municipalities.

At the same time, the German Alliance on Climate Change and Health has pointed out that heat protection must be part of a comprehensive public health strategy. This includes urban planning with more green spaces, the expansion of public transport to reduce car traffic, and investments in water infrastructure. A better data basis on heat-related deaths has also long been called for.

The debate comes at a time when Germany is also feeling other climate-related impacts. Recently, water temperatures off Mallorca were measured at over 33 degrees Celsius, while the weather in Germany ranged from sunny 30 degrees in the north to changeable conditions in the south. According to experts, such extremes are increasing and will occur more frequently in Rhineland-Palatinate in the future.

The state government announced that it would take the results of the RKI evaluation as an occasion to launch a new heat protection program. Planned measures include funding for municipalities, training in care facilities, and a statewide heat warning app. Whether the demand for a climate article in the Basic Law can secure a political majority, however, remains open.