Cologne is fighting against heat stress: becoming greener despite the concrete desert!

Cologne is fighting against heat stress: becoming greener despite the concrete desert!

Urban heat is an issue that is increasingly being addressed at a political level in Cologne. The environmental impacts of increasing compaction and sealing of areas cannot be ignored. Loud Cologne City Gazette Around 50 percent of the areas in Cologne are sealed. This causes streets and buildings to heat up significantly in summer, while temperatures remain more pleasant in the few green areas of the city such as parks. A density of concrete and asphalt that harms the urban microclimate creates the so-called urban heat island effect.

This effect is not only unpleasant, but also has very real consequences. The German Weather Service (DWD) reports that the number of hot days (≥ 30 °C) is expected to increase by the middle of the century. Forecasts even show a doubling of such days compared to the years 1971 to 2000 for the climate scenario RCP8.5. The need to implement measures to combat such a development is urgent, emphasizes Dr. Christina Koppe from the DWD.

Climate adaptation in focus

Cologne's local politics has already taken on these challenges. The University of Cologne and the TH Cologne act as role models in this regard. The building master plan focuses on sustainability and ecological standards. Albertus-Magnus-Platz, which is currently being redesigned, is an example of these efforts. Although new green spaces are planned here, the area remains dominated by gray natural stone - a fact that is causing debate among many.

According to reports, the chemical building on Luxemburger Strasse is located Cologne City-Anzeiger in terms of greening, falls short of expectations. It is clear that measures are still needed to increase the proportion of urban green space. The TH Cologne is also planning a new campus, which is to be completed by 2042, towards the topics of greening and unsealing.

The challenge of sealing

The high degree of sealing is not only worrying for the environment. The DWD warns that this can also lead to overloads in the sewerage systems during heavy rainfall. Without appropriate action, it remains elusive how to effectively address the effects of climate change. The DWD suggests increasing the use of unsealing measures and tree planting to counteract the urban microclimate.

A considerable part of the factors contributing to the urban heat problem are not only specific temperature differences, but also changed social meeting spaces and health risks, as shown klima-wissen.de is executed. Vulnerable groups such as older people or those with previous illnesses are particularly affected by heat stress. In the midst of these challenges, cities and communities have a duty to find new solutions to create a modern and livable environment for everyone.