Germany sets new heat record as climate debate continues

Germany hit its highest temperature ever on July 24, when the town of Geilenkirchen in the state North Rhine-Westphalia recorded 40.5 degrees Celsius, yet the record may stand of only one day as temperatures continue to soar, Germany’s National Meteorological Service (DWD) has forecasted. Daniela Jacob, director of the Climate Service Center Germany told newspaper Tagesspiegel Germany could expect more heat waves of this kind in the future. The German Green party has presented a "heat action plan”, suggesting, among other things, that outdoor workers should be suspended in extreme heat. Germany’s previous temperature record was measured in 2015, at 40.3 degrees Celsius. 

An unusually early heatwave in June 2019, following the previous year’s extremely hot and dry summer, prompted renewed calls for climate action in Germany. Last summer, a large majority of the population believed the hot weather was a result of climate change. In June this year, experts confirmed that the current heatwave was made more probable by climate change.