Heat action plan

With its heat action plan, Jena is one of the first cities in central Germany to strategically address increasing heat stress and the associated health consequences.

This is no coincidence: due to its topographical and structural conditions, Jena is the warmest city in Thuringia and one of the hottest cities in Germany. Hot years such as 2018 with its 37 hot days (Tmax > 30°C) and 102 summer days (Tmax > 25°C) are increasingly becoming the norm, while current climate projections indicate an intensification and accumulation of sometimes extreme heat waves. Our support systems, medical facilities, educational institutions, sports clubs and citizens are increasingly feeling the effects of this.

The heat action plan is therefore intended to better protect the population of Jena and in particular the so-called vulnerable groups (including small children, elderly people, people with health problems, pregnant women) from the increasingly intense periods of heat in the future and the associated health risks. The plan establishes clear procedures and responsibilities in the event of a heat event, strengthens risk communication and anchors structural heat protection more firmly in construction planning.

The heat action plan lists a total of 31 measures in four thematic pillars of action:

• Heat prevention (A): Measures that are effective in the medium to long term are to be systematically implemented and anchored. Measures in this area serve to reduce exposure to extreme heat. The overarching goals are to minimize the urban heat island effect and to promote the development of support structures.

• Risk communication (B): The heat action plan is intended to encourage the population to adopt heat-adapted behavior. The aim of these measures is to increase awareness of and risk communication on heat risks and to promote action competence in the support systems, the work sector and, above all, in the population.

• Acute event (C): This includes measures that are taken in an acute event, i.e. during a heatwave, to ensure the protection of vulnerable population groups in particular.

• Monitoring and evaluation (D): Monitoring measures are intended to make the connection between heat in the urban area and an increased health risk visible. The evaluation ensures that the measures of the heat action plan achieve the desired effect (effectiveness), are cost-effective (efficiency) and reach the targeted vulnerable group and meet with approval (acceptance).

Selected immediate measures are intended to provide essential, fundamental impetus for the city's heat protection as well as for the implementation of the overall concept and are focused on by the steering group for the heat action plan.