Saxony's cities in the heat fight: new plans for cooler summer!

Saxony's cities in the heat fight: new plans for cooler summer!

The increasing heating of our summer presents in particular urban areas. Leipzig in particular has recognized that heat action plans are necessary to prepare the population and the infrastructure for the upcoming hot periods. This is reported by the Freie Presse .

On June 3, 2025, the Saxon cities look at the progress of their heat action plans. According to the Climate Adjustment Act, which has been in force since July 2022, these plans should support the municipalities. Leipzig decided in April 2023 his first heat action plan, which includes 14 new measures. These include heat warnings, a "refreshing card" with cool places as well as drinking fountains and water playgrounds. Furthermore, an expansion of the drinking water offer is sought in order to ensure the supply of heat periods in particular.

measures and strategies in the Saxon cities

In detail, the heat action plan stipulates that special information is provided for groups in need of protection, such as seniors and toddlers in daycare centers. In addition, homeless people are supplied with sunscreen and light clothing. The measures are implemented in areas with high heat load, including the city center and districts such as Volkmarsdorf and Reudnitz.

Dresden has published a heat manual that informs the citizens about the effects of the urban climate and health risks. Developed as part of the “Heatresilientcity II” project, measures such as the space seal have been tested to improve the microclimate. The aim is to reduce the temperature in affected living rooms, with measures being implemented in certain districts.

challenges and future views

In Chemnitz, on the other hand, the heat action plan is still in the planning, with the first designs that can already be viewed. The challenges due to dense buildings and little green areas are particularly high in the center, Sonnenberg and Kaßberg. Here, too, measures should be developed together as part of a broad coordination process.

The situation in Germany clearly shows that there has been an increase in heat waves since the 1970s. According to the European environmental agency, the urban metropolitan areas are particularly affected. The need for heat action plans has already been recognized in previous reports. The Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that 81% of the municipal administrations, which were addressed to heat action plans, whose action recommendations are considered helpful-a sign that more and more municipalities recognize and correspond Plan or implement measures.

With the progressive urban heating, it is essential that the cities further develop and evaluate their measures and strategies. The challenge caused by heat waves remains a serious health risk that remains even with a weak climate change. A legal anchoring of health protection in the heat as a municipal mandatory task is required by many experts.