Schneider wants to amend the Basic Law for better heat protection

From the Ministry it was said that they wanted to do more in heat protection. So far, however, various points have slowed down implementation. These include, according to the Ministry, unclear responsibilities between the Federation and the Länder as well as a lack of binding standards for heat protection plans in cities and municipalities.

Reactions and criticism

The physicist Carlo Buontempo, who works at the European climate change service Copernicus, commented on the question of whether the extreme heat of this summer is the new normal. Buontempo pointed out that the probability of such heat waves has increased significantly due to man-made climate change.

At the same time, experts warn of a persistent drought in many parts of Germany. A soil condition monitor shows that soils in several regions have dried out more deeply than in the long-term average. The situation will worsen further without swift action, according to the analyses.

Schneider now wants to introduce the Basic Law amendment in the Bundestag. The proposal is likely to be discussed controversially there. Within both the SPD and the CDU there are also differing positions on how far a constitutional anchoring of heat protection should go.

What an action plan could include

Critics complain that a constitutional amendment alone will not solve the problems. They point to the shortage of staff in public health departments, a lack of cooling rooms in care facilities, and insufficient urban planning. Supporters, on the other hand, see a constitutional amendment as an important signal to permanently prioritize heat protection.

It is still unclear which concrete measures are to be anchored in a national action plan. Among the items under discussion are binding warning systems, the provision of cool public spaces, better protection of elderly people, and adjustments in building and urban planning.

Next steps in the Bundestag

The debate comes at a time of high temperatures and growing concerns about the consequences of climate change. Schneider emphasized that protection from heat is a task for society as a whole and concerns all levels – from municipalities through the Länder to the Federation.