Climate change: Does Bremen soon need a heat protection strategy?

Climate change: Does Bremen soon need a heat protection strategy?

Climate change does not stop at our homes, and its influence is becoming increasingly clear in Bremen and Bremerhaven. While the World Climate Conference in Brazil is currently developing solutions, current developments on site report growing challenges. Extreme weather events, such as heavy rain and extreme summer heat, are increasing, and climate protection has lost popularity in many countries. In the European Union, climate targets have even been revised downwards, which raises questions about the future.

The Bremen steelworks stopped converting to green steel, a decision that could increase concerns about the regional industry. Thomas Jung, climate researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, is keeping an eye on developments and makes a forecast for the year 2050. He expects global warming of around two degrees compared to today's values, which will of course also have a major impact on Bremen.

Weather forecasts for Bremen

Bremen faces further challenges until 2050. The temperature increase here will be around 10% greater than in Bremerhaven, which is particularly due to the proximity to the North Sea. The current heat warning suggests temperatures will be around 32 degrees - before climate change it would have been only around 30 degrees. Jung warns that heat waves could reach up to 35 degrees as a direct result of climate change. This corresponds to an increase of five degrees compared to pre-industrial times.

Another problem is on the horizon: the probability of snow in the winter of 2050 will also decrease, although occasional snow events are still possible with strong easterly winds. The warmer air causes it to absorb more water from the ground, which is why heavy rain events will increase. In addition, storm activity could increase during the winter months in northern Germany, although the exact extent of the climatic influences on wind and storms is less clearly predictable.

Sea level rise and outlook for the future

A particularly alarming issue is the expected rise in sea levels. By the end of the 21st century, this could rise by around one meter without countermeasures. In a worst-case scenario, there is even a risk of rises of up to two meters, which depends heavily on the melting of the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. These changes not only affect nature, but also the lifestyles of the people in the affected regions.

Climate change is no longer just a theoretical concept, but a reality that directly affects us all. It remains to be seen what measures the international community can encourage and how local politicians will respond to these worsening problems. Solutions are urgently needed to mitigate the impacts and ensure sustainable future development.