Master plan decided: heat protection for Cologne schools is coming!

Master plan decided: heat protection for Cologne schools is coming!

On July 17, 2025, the inner city district council in Cologne took a significant step to actively combat the summer heat in schools. A master plan unanimously approved by the Greens, Social Democrats, Leftists and climate friends is intended to offer solutions to the currently unbearable conditions in many school buildings. Loud ksta.de During the hot months, many schools suffer from extreme temperature increases, which not only affect teaching but also have health consequences.

Due to climate change, heat waves are increasingly being observed, which not only increase external temperatures, but also endanger learning and the health of students. Temperatures over 27 degrees were measured in the classrooms, and in some schools they even rose to 32 degrees, according to statements from teachers. In such conditions it is difficult to concentrate, which can lead to symptoms such as dizziness and exhaustion News4Teachers reported.

The master plan in detail

The new master plan requires the administration to systematically record all inner-city school buildings that regularly overheat. This also includes temperature measurements and feedback from school management. The renovation needs are assessed based on urgency and technical feasibility. A central element of the plan is modern shading techniques and a pilot project in the Humboldt High School, in which new windows with integrated blinds are to be tested. The aim is to test this window solution under real conditions and, if necessary, install it in other school rooms.

The problem is also explained by decades of neglect: shade-providing systems were dismantled over 20 years ago without creating adequate replacements. The applications therefore also provide for immediate structural measures to improve living and learning temperatures. The cooking kitchen at the Gotenring elementary school, which often reaches over 30 degrees, is another example of an urgent need for action. Due to a lack of air conditioning, the windows cannot be opened, which puts a lot of strain on the work of the kitchen staff.

A look at the national heat protection strategy

As part of a national heat protection strategy, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also presented measures that include, in particular, an early warning system for heat waves. But in contrast to the concrete steps in Cologne, schools have not yet been specifically integrated into the plan, which has met with criticism in the educational community. Cornelia Schwartz, the chairwoman of the Philologists' Association in Rhineland-Palatinate, is calling for a comprehensive heat protection plan that also includes viable concepts for health and occupational safety in schools lehr-news.de is to be read.

Schools in Germany are therefore faced with the challenge of not only ensuring classical education, but also taking into account changing climatic conditions. Improved building standards, more shaded areas and even the integration of sustainable energy use such as solar panels are child-friendly approaches that could also help create a better learning climate.