The consequences of global warming are already becoming more and more noticeable in Germany today: the Federal Government's second climate monitoring report comes to this conclusion. Accordingly, the average air temperature in Germany has increased by 1.5 degrees from 1881 to 2018. In the past five years alone, it rose by 0.3 degrees.
"The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent," said Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD). Global warming leads to higher health risks as a result of heat stress, an increase in the average surface temperature of the North Sea and greater fluctuations in agricultural yields. Especially cities would have better arm themselves against heat, heavy rain and high water.
The other results at a glance:
- The increase in the mean temperature also leads to more heat days , where the temperature rises above 30 degrees. If there were still three heat days per year in 1951, there are now ten.
- For the first time, the report lists heat-related deaths in Germany . According to that, in 2003 about 7500 more people died than would have been expected without a heat period. In 2006 and 2015, there were 6000 additional deaths each.
- Prolonged drought has led more and more to low groundwater levels over the past decade. Some communities therefore had problems with the drinking water supply. (Here you can read more about it.)
- Low water levels in rivers not only affect the ecosystem, but also the economy , because only a limited number of vessels can sail. In addition, the supply of power plants and industry with cooling water is at risk.
- The available water in agricultural soils has decreased significantly over the past 50 years . In 2018, heat and drought in agriculture caused damage of 700 million euros.
The study shows that climate change is not an abstract problem of future generations. "The future has already reached us," says Maria Krautzberger, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), which was also involved in the evaluation. The effects of climate change need further research. "It is conceivable that a special climate protection program be funded and financed by the federal and state governments," said Krautzberger.
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UN report on global emissions
The UN warns, however, that current global measures to combat climate change are inadequate. The countries would have to increase their efforts immensely, if they want to reach the common 1.5-degree target, according to a study in the Uno environmental program Unep, which was also presented on Tuesday.
If the world's population lives on as it is, the temperature threatens to rise by as much as 3.9 degrees by the end of the century rather than by 1.5 degrees as compared to pre-industrial levels. Even if all states actually deliver their currently promised contributions to climate protection, 2030 will still be emitting 32 gigatons of CO2 too much to reach the 1.5-degree target.
From 2 to 13 December, representatives from 200 countries will meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid to debate the fight against the climate crisis.
