Dear reader,
in the coming weeks it will be hot in Germany.
Temperatures of around 38 degrees are expected to occur locally in the middle of the week.
The German Weather Service predicts that there is talk of a heat wave rolling towards the Federal Republic.
Germany is thus catching up to a lesser extent on what has been observed in many neighboring European countries for some time: extreme temperatures in some cases, coupled with droughts and fires in some places.
It is already the second heat wave in Europe this summer: the continent was already groaning under the high temperatures in June.
Anyone in Germany who has the feeling that they are experiencing more stiflingly hot days in summer than they used to will find confirmation from science: the number of hot days with temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius has increased compared to the period between the 1960s and 1980s. years doubled.
At that time it was an average of four days a year, says Peter Hoffmann, meteorologist and expert on extreme weather at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
'It's eight now.
In the past extreme years of 2018 and 2019, it was even almost 20 days.«
This week, a team of colleagues from the foreign, data journalism and science departments dealt with the phenomenon in more detail - from the drought in Germany and the dryness in Italy to the extreme heat in metropolises like Athens.
With the texts from the main focus that emerged from this - and which I link to you below - I say goodbye for two weeks.
The climate report is going on a short summer break, the next episode will appear on August 15th.
Rest - and stay confident.
If you like, we will inform you once a week about the most important things about the climate crisis - stories, research results and the latest developments on the biggest issue of our time. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Focus on heat and drought in Europe
Extreme weather in Europe: Welcome to the age of heat
Another wave of hot air is rolling over the Iberian Peninsula and western Europe.
In the coming week she will reach Germany.
We will have to learn to live with heat, drought and fire.
Drought in Germany – the data analysis: Where is there already a red alert?
The large overview in maps and graphics shows how close Germany is to the drought record of 2018, which areas are particularly plagued by the drought - and where it is becoming milder.
Record temperatures in Paris, Madrid and Athens: How do metropolises fight heat death?
More parks, more trees, less concrete: Europe's inner cities have to change radically in order not to collapse at more than 40 degrees.
Greece even wants to reactivate an almost 2000-year-old building for this purpose.
Drought in Italy: How do you stand it in Sicily, Mr. Amantia?
Climate change is not solely to blame for the Italian water shortage – 40 percent seep away through leaky pipes.
Here, orange farmer Vito Amantia reveals how to survive the heat.
The topics of the week
Immediate program for climate protection: Federal government wants to ban new gas heating systems from 2024
In the building sector, the federal government has fallen far short of its climate targets.
According to SPIEGEL information, she is now launching an immediate program.
It is vague in many places, but very specific when it comes to the ban on pure gas heating.
Immediate climate protection program in transport: With the cable car past the climate target
The traffic light coalition has not delivered the promised climate protection immediate program.
Instead of the big hit, Minister of Transport Wissing presented a short-term minimal solution.
What the ideas bring.
Russia's energy and climate policy: "Putin destroyed the gas deal with Europe"
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has set the world back in the fight against climate change.
The US political scientist Thane Gustafson sees Germany as a test case for how to proceed.
Record prices for electricity: How solar and wind parks become gold mines in the gas crisis
In the middle of the energy crisis, electricity is being traded at prices that have never been higher.
This will be expensive for consumers, but it will bring fabulous profits to green electricity producers – also thanks to a special legal rule.
Why many Germans are now switching to coal: But that's not what the energy transition meant
. Suddenly the dirtiest energy source is the most reliable: Because of the gas crisis, the demand for briquettes and coal stoves is skyrocketing.
Bad for the climate, good for people like Peter Bosse.
How do we fireproof forests?
The number of forest fires in Germany is increasing.
An experiment in Brandenburg is intended to make forests fit to withstand flames.
How does it work?
A visit.
Yours, Kurt Stukenberg
