Differing Scenario in Stuttgart - "Matters Shall Take a New Turn"
In the face of rising temperatures and the increasing likelihood of heatwaves due to climate change, Stuttgart, Germany, has taken a proactive approach by introducing the Stuttgart Heat Action Plan. The plan outlines specific measures to protect citizens during a heat dome event, focusing on behavioural and environmental strategies.
The German Society for Geriatrics' president, Markus Gosch, has warned of the potential for significantly more work for the healthcare system due to heat domes. Similarly, Robin Maitra, the climate protection officer of the Baden-Württemberg State Medical Association, has emphasised the need for planning for heat domes, especially during the vacation season.
Heatwaves are now considered a potential threat in the next few years, including as early as next year. To address this, a workshop was held in Stuttgart with around 30 experts to discuss heat domes and emergency responses.
The number of hot days in Stuttgart is on the rise, with a record of 35 degrees reached on July 2. To combat this, the Stuttgart Heat Action Plan recommends several key measures. These include avoiding outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., the hottest hours of the day, and spending time outdoors preferably in the cooler morning or evening hours.
Other recommendations include protecting oneself from the sun by using sun cream and wearing headgear, wearing light, light-colored clothing to reduce heat absorption, hydrating adequately, eating a light and balanced diet, ventilating living spaces early in the morning or late in the evening, and keeping them darkened and closed during the heat of the day to maintain a cooler indoor environment.
Stuttgart also provides public drinking fountains and designated cooling spots for citizens to find relief during heatwaves; maps indicating these locations are available online.
While the Stuttgart Heat Action Plan addresses heatwaves, including evacuations in case of danger, it does not explicitly detail comprehensive municipal-wide heat dome emergency protocols such as shelter operations or city services adjustments. The focus is clearly on citizen-oriented preventive and protective measures.
Heat domes can result in significantly more cases of illness and death, potentially leading to tens of thousands of deaths within a few days. Martin Herrmann of KLUG has emphasised the need for quick identification of endangered people and arrangements for their safety. However, authorities are currently unprepared for such a possible heat dome event, unlike flooding.
Evacuations during heatwaves are expected to last for days, not just a few hours. The goal is to be better prepared for heatwaves by summer 2026. Strong heatwaves are not yet included in disaster plans, including in Stuttgart, despite the new heat action plan.
Representatives from disaster protection, doctors, the German Weather Service, science, the AOK, and municipalities such as Stuttgart and Mannheim were present at the workshop. The Stuttgart Heat Action Plan also addresses evacuations in case of danger.
It's important to note that the apartment is the most dangerous place during a heat wave, particularly for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing conditions. A heat dome, also known as a heat bubble, is a high-pressure zone in the atmosphere that traps heat over a specific area for days or weeks. If a top-floor apartment does not cool down below 25 degrees over several nights, the risk of stroke or heart attack increases.
Stuttgart has recently introduced this heat action plan to protect residents from increasing heat due to climate change. The plan is a step towards ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its citizens during heatwaves, which are becoming more likely due to advancing climate change.
The Stuttgart Heat Action Plan highlights the concern of medical-conditions exacerbation due to the increasing number of hot days, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions. This plan acknowledges the need for climate-change mitigation in health-and-wellness, as heatwaves become more common. The Stuttgart Heat Action Plan, however, lacks detailed municipal-wide heat dome emergency protocols, focusing instead on preventive and protective measures for citizens.
Given the potential threat of heat domes, environmental-science experts, such as Martin Herrmann of KLUG, emphasize the importance of quick identification of endangered people and arrangements for their safety. This underlines the need for comprehensive planning and preparation in the face of climate change.
The workshops held in Stuttgart with various experts bring together science, healthcare, disaster management, and municipalities to discuss potential responses to heat dome events, demonstrating the interconnectedness of climate-change, health-and-wellness, and the environment in face of the growing risk of heatwaves.
