Germany's heat wave is over, political fallout has just begun
Key takeaways
- After a major heat wave, critics say leaders need to do more for climate change adaption.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5GL8s Fountains and even police water cannons have provided relief to city dwellers Image: Axel Schmidt/REUTERSAdvertisement.
- One reason for this is that Germany doesn't have any national heat protection regulations that would require cooling systems in such facilities.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
After a major heat wave, critics say leaders need to do more for climate change adaption. Policymakers disagree on who's responsible to prepare Germany for extreme temperatures ― the federal government or municipalities.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GL8s Fountains and even police water cannons have provided relief to city dwellers Image: Axel Schmidt/REUTERSAdvertisement. This last weekend saw recording-breaking temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). These are life-threatening situations for retirement and nursing homes and hospitals with little or no air conditioning.
One reason for this is that Germany doesn't have any national heat protection regulations that would require cooling systems in such facilities.