Germany's opposition Green Party is calling for urgent action to protect the population from extreme heat after the country experienced record-breaking temperatures over the weekend.
Katharina Dröge, the Green's parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, accused the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz of doing nothing to protect the public during the hot weather.
"Friedrich Merz may be able to ignore the heat from the air-conditioned Chancellery, but the nursing staff in hospitals cannot," Dröge told public broadcaster ARD on Monday. "They have to work in sweltering heat, and the elderly in care homes are suffering because there is no air conditioning. That is why we have said we must take urgent action."
As temperatures soared to a record 41.7 degrees Celsius in the east of the country on Sunday, Dröge called for air conditioning to be immediately installed in hospitals, care homes, nurseries and schools.
In the Sunday edition of the Bild tabloid, the politician proposed subsidizing solar-powered air-conditioning units. "In summer, we have a situation where solar panels produce so much extremely cheap electricity," meaning air conditioning combined with a solar panel system is feasible, she said.
Dröge also called for more trees and bushes in urban areas to cool the air, adding that a single tree can replace several air-conditioning units.
Record-breaking heatwaves are already a reality, she said. "We have to adapt to this. We’ve already progressed so far with the climate crisis that it can no longer be prevented."
"If we don't take action on climate protection now, in 20 years we’ll look back on these summers as being cold," Dröge added.
