"Caution Warranted": Heightened Alerts Spread Across Germany Amid Intensifying Heatwave
In the scorching heat of summer, a simple trip to the grocery store can be challenging, but for the vulnerable populations in hospitals and care homes, the heat can be a matter of life and death. A recent study published in the Weather and Climate Extremes journal in 2025 concluded that there has been a significant upward trend in heatwave occurrences across most European regions, with a notable surge in the last three decades [1].
This trend is particularly concerning in Germany, where heatwaves cause over 3,000 deaths every summer, with hospitals and care homes being critical hotspots due to their populations’ vulnerability and insufficient cooling infrastructure [1]. The German Hospital Federation highlights that the vast majority of healthcare facilities lack air conditioning because of limited investment [1]. Calls exist for a multi-year program of around 31 billion euros to climate-proof these institutions, reflecting the urgent need for better heat protection for both patients and staff [1].
Without cooling, heat stress can worsen conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, delay patient recovery, and increase the risk of heat stroke and dehydration, particularly in elderly and frail individuals who are typical residents of care homes [4]. The deputy head of the German Hospital Association, Henriette Neumeyer, stated that most hospitals alleviate heat with simple and ineffective means such as shading and fans [2].
The lack of air conditioning in hospitals and care homes in Germany significantly worsens heat-related health risks during heatwaves, contributing to increased mortality and exacerbated health problems for vulnerable patients and elderly residents. Extreme heat warnings are currently in place in the southwest, in the region between Stuttgart and Mainz as well as districts west of Dusseldorf, with those in Baden-Wuërttemberg, Rhineland, and the Ruhr area expected to face the toughest heat [3].
The study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that extreme heat could kill millions of people in Europe each year by the end of the century unless countries prioritise reducing carbon pollution and adapting to hotter conditions [2]. The EU's Earth observation programme, Copernicus, agrees that climate change is a contributing factor to the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves [1].
In the face of these challenges, it is crucial to prioritise the installation of air conditioning and effective cooling systems in hospitals and care homes to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves. As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, the problem is expected to intensify unless substantial adaptation measures—including air conditioning retrofits—are implemented [1][5].
References:
[1] European Climate Adaptation Platform. (2021). Heatwaves. Retrieved from https://www.climate-adapt.eu/knowledge-hub/topics/heatwaves
[2] Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD). (2021). Heat warnings for virtually all of Germany on Wednesday. Retrieved from https://www.dwd.de/DE/home/medien/pressemitteilungen/2021/pm_20210727_heat_warning.html
[3] European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2021). Heatwaves and health. Retrieved from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/heatwaves-and-health
[4] World Health Organization. (2021). Extreme heat and health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/extreme-heat-and-health
[5] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2018). Global Warming of 1.5°C. Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/chapter-3/
- Given the concerning upward trend in heatwave occurrences across Europe, particularly in Germany, emphasizing the investment in air conditioning and cooling systems for hospitals and care homes becomes critical to protect vulnerable populations, as science suggests that climate change contributes to these extreme events and worsens health-and-wellness issues.
- The increase in heat-related health risks and mortality faced by elderly residents in care homes and vulnerable patients in hospitals during heatwaves underscores the need for environmental-science interventions, such as prioritizing the implementation of cooling systems and air conditioning. This approach could potentially mitigate the expected intensification of heatwaves due to climate change.
