Effects chain – Example from the ‘human health’ action field | Umweltbundesamt

Climate changes relevant to the action field

State: Heat

The distinct increase in the mean annual temperature also entailed an increase in the frequency of temperature extremes. For example, the frequency of hot days with a maximum temperature of at least 30 °C has increased throughout Germany. Moreover, extraordinary heatwaves have occurred more frequently since the 1990s. In the context of the current monitoring report, heatwaves are to be understood as 14-day heat periods with a mean daily maximum air temperature of at least 30.0 °C. The examination of eight German cities revealed that 24 % of the heatwaves identified occurred in the period of 1961 to 1990, compared to 76 % which occurred in the period of 32 subsequent years (cf. Figure 7)

Impacts of climate change

Impact: GE-I-2 Heat-related mortalities

Heatwaves affect human beings in different ways. Above all, the group comprising the elderly and people living alone, is regularly affected by mortalities at significant scales during intensive and prolonged heat events. It is estimated that in the years from 2018 to 2020 alone, 19,300 individuals succumbed to extreme heat. This figure exceeds the number of mortalities due to severe storm disasters.

Adaptations – activities and results

Response: GE-R-1 Heat warning service

The heat warning service established by the DWD informs the population and facilities such as hospitals via the heat newsletter, the health weather app (GesundheitsWetter-App) and the ‘www.hitzewarnungen.de’ website on imminent weather patterns hazardous to health. These information sources can help institutions to take preventative measures in good time as well as enabling the population to respond by taking measures for self-protection.

Response: GE-R-2 Public awareness of health problems caused by heatwaves

In recent years, intensive PR work has contributed to raising public awareness regarding the impacts of heatwaves. This may also be one of the reasons why especially in recent years, there has not been an increase in mortalities, despite greater frequency and intensity of heat events.