climate
Survey: Almost two thirds of Germans are afraid of extreme weather
In this country, too, the risk of forest fires increases with increasing temperatures
© Imago Images
Heavy rain, extreme heat waves, drought: The extreme weather in southern Europe also worries people in Germany. There is criticism of the federal government – but also no changes in travel behavior.
Heat waves and storms: Extreme weather events are currently hitting southern Europe, but are also in Germany more and more often. According to a survey, almost two thirds of adults in Germany (61 percent) are afraid of events such as floods, tornadoes, forest fires or extreme heat in Germany.
The organization Campact commissioned the survey from the opinion research institute Yougov. 42 percent fear that they themselves could be affected by extreme weather events in the future. 2 percent stated that they had already been affected.
Campact calls for “far more climate protection”
According to the survey, more than half of those surveyed (56 percent) say that the federal government is doing too little in terms of climate policy to protect people in Germany from extreme weather. 30 percent believe that the protection is sufficient.
“Whether heavy rain, drought or heat records – this summer the climate crisis is hitting the globe more massively than ever before and is rightly a concern for many people,” said Campact Managing Director Christoph Bautz. “The government’s response to a summer of extreme weather must not be less but far more climate protection.”
A similar survey by the opinion research institute Yougov on behalf of the German Press Agency shows that almost a third of citizens want to draw their own conclusions from the consequences of extreme weather events. For example, 30 percent of those surveyed would like to go on holiday in the Mediterranean region less often or not at all in order to avoid extreme heat or forest fires. On the other hand, 37 percent of respondents did not think about the consequences for themselves.
Tourism is thriving despite the heat wave
The travel industry is not yet observing any new behavior. For example, the President of the German Travel Association DRV, Norbert Fiebig, said: “There is currently no change in booking behavior due to the long-lasting heat wave in southern Europe.”
Popular travel destinations in southern Europe are struggling with major heat waves and severe forest fires this summer. On Mallorca, the German travel stronghold par excellence, the thermometer rose to well over 40 degrees. Other areas of southern Europe even reached over 45 degrees.
In Greece, numerous hectares of forest, bushland and agricultural regions have been destroyed by fires in recent weeks. After weeks of drought and a longer heat wave, the island of Rhodes and the region around the central Greek town of Anchialos were particularly badly hit.
Sometimes more than 40 degrees
Between water fights and forest fires: heat wave rolls over Mediterranean countries
When it comes to doing more for climate protection overall, a change in their own buying behavior is a priority for those surveyed: 77 percent stated that they could imagine buying more local and seasonal products. This is followed by less frequent driving (61 percent) and less frequent flying (56 percent).