Heat wave hits Hildesheim: City urgently needs cooling solutions!

Heat wave hits Hildesheim: City urgently needs cooling solutions!

Heat in German cities is a hot topic that needs to be taken seriously. Today it turns out that the German Environmental Aid (DUH) found serious differences in how they deal with heat stress in their study of 190 cities. The situation is particularly critical in Hildesheim, where protective measures for the population are inadequate. On the other hand, the city of Lingen in Lower Saxony was able to shine with its high proportion of green spaces and a low degree of imperviousness and takes fourth place in the nationwide ranking.

The Heat Check 2025 shows that over 12 million people in German cities are exposed to extreme heat stress. The results show that 31 cities were rated with a red card, 131 with a yellow card and only 28 with a green card. Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Worms are the most affected cities, with 88 to 91% of the population living in heavily polluted areas. For cities that are classified as green, such as Kiel, Wilhelmshaven and Flensburg, things seem to be a little milder, but there is a need for action here too, as duh.de reports.

The situation in Hildesheim and Lingen

What makes Hildesheim so susceptible to high temperatures? Here the average surface temperature in summer is a worrying 36 degrees, while at the same time the city has a high level of sealing. This leads to insufficient cooling of the surrounding area and thus to increased heat stress for residents. The DUH urgently calls for rapid investments in the infrastructure to improve the situation. For example, drinking fountains and additional green spaces would be necessary steps in the right direction.

In contrast, Lingen not only has a high proportion of green spaces, but the lower level of soil sealing is a decisive factor for the positive rating. Experts justify the need for cities like Oldenburg and Nordhorn to also take action, despite having many green spaces. Lingen and Wilhelmshaven could serve as role models for other communities that are rethinking their heat strategies.

The heat impact index and its meaning

The use of the Heat Impact Index (HBI) shows, based on criteria such as sealing, surface temperature and population density, where the greatest challenges lie and where targeted climate adaptation measures can be taken. Every year around 3,000 people in Germany die as a result of extreme heat. The DUH is calling on citizens to encourage their cities to take heat protection measures, while municipalities are increasingly developing heat action plans. As nationale-stadtentwicklungspolitik.de emphasizes, heat pollution in cities is increasing due to climate change, which has a negative impact on the health and quality of life of residents and requires urgent action.

The increasing heat stress is not an annoying problem, but a reality that regions in Lower Saxony also have to face. Whether through innovative projects, the conversion of urban spaces or the creation of more green spaces – creative and long-term solutions are needed to make living conditions more bearable.