Most Germans want more climate adaptation, see need for cooling in public buildings

Amid the record heat in the summer of 2026, more effective climate adaptation is gaining in importance for many people in Germany, a survey by the E.ON Foundation has found. Over 35 percent of respondents said that climate adaptation should be made the focus of climate policy, while 45 percent said it should be treated with the same priority as climate protection. 

The survey among 5,000 people, conducted in mid-August, comes at a time when Germany and many other countries in Europe are dealing with major damages to the environment, agriculture, public health, and the wider economy caused by extreme heat and drought. The heatwaves and persistently high temperatures coupled with very little rainfall have led to low water levels, forest fires and crop failures and significantly increased the demand for cooling energy to cushion heat effects. 

“People have understood that the question is no longer whether we are facing climate change,” said Stephan Muschick, executive manager of the E.ON Foundation. “We have to forcefully fight the causes of climate change and at the same time prepare for the consequences that are already taking effect.” Muschick said that climate action and climate adaptation must be pursued in parallel, warning against prioritising one over the other. 

“Germany needs both: a successful energy transition and more resilience against heat, droughts, heavy rain and other climate risks,” he added. According to the foundation, the survey results suggest that resilience should be included in any debate about climate policy. “This includes investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, the adaptation of cities, nature and economies to increasing climate risks and strengthening knowledge, precaution and expertise in the population.”

In a separate survey conducted by news site ntv, a large majority of respondents agreed that Germany needs to install more air conditioning in public buildings to better adapt to greater heat. With 95 percent agreement, most respondents said that hospitals are particularly in need of more air conditioning or other cooling technology, followed by retirement homes (92%) and schools (78%). Only 37 percent said that this is urgently necessary in administrative buildings. 

The results were mostly consistent across regions and party lines, ntv said. Citizens in both western and eastern Germany were overwhelmingly in favour of better adapting hospitals and other buildings with cooling technology. Regarding political party affiliation, supporters of the Left Party were most in favour of better cooling for hospitals (99%), while supporters of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) showed the lowest support – but still at 92 percent agreement.