'Not a word': German top leadership silent on sky-rocketing heat deaths
Hot weather events have killed an estimated 12,500 people in Germany so far this year, but the chancellor has yet to address the issue publicly.
An estimated 12,500 people have died from extreme heat events in Germany this year, yet Chancellor Friedrich Merz has remained silent on the issue. Multiple heatwaves have contributed to the high death toll, which is significantly higher than usual. The chancellor asked for continued monitoring of the situation but has not taken any proactive measures.
Heat deaths have triggered a rally in Berlin in which climate activist Luisa Neubauer criticized the government for its lack of action. Germany's Constitutional Court has ruled that the federal government is responsible for carrying out the country's climate protection plan, but Merz has personally supported policies that go against these goals.
Cities are urged to plant more trees and reduce paved areas to mitigate heat stress, but many cities are failing to do so, exacerbating the problem.
Written by urgent.news from The Local Germany's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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