Germany- the effects of climate change

this testimony

Antje von Brook from BUND/Friends of the Earth Germany describes how slight climate changes are having a long term impact in Germany:

¨As the temperature increases, those in urban areas are likely to suffer the most, especially the elderly and those with heart disease. In 2003 more than 5,000 people died because of the heat and future summers may bring more fatalities. With the rise in temperature, tropical diseases can survive even in central Europe. Cases of dengue fever have already been reported in France and Italy. In Germany there were cases of leishmaniasis (Dum-Dum-fever) and an increase in Lyme disease.

¨While the skiing industry is struggling with warmer winters and lower snowfall, the Alps face even more severe problems. Increased temperatures, even in the high mountains, cause glaciers to melt and have caused a reduction of 20% in the last 20 years. With the decrease in ice and the melting of permafrost zones, rocks become loose, avalanches are more common, and mudflows threaten houses and even whole villages.¨

photo credit BUND Naturschutz Bayern

background

In Germany the average temperature has risen by 0.9°C. Autumns are much warmer than before – since the beginning of the last century, the temperature at this time of year rose by 1.1°C. This is only the precursor; climate models predict that the average temperature could rise by 2°C or even more compared with the second half of the last century.

Along with the unusual high winter temperatures comes storms and heavy rain. Since 1974 we have observed an 34% increase in rainfall during winters and a 10% increase in spring and autumn. Whereas rainfall during autumn and winter increases, summer rains become more seldom. Some regions already suffer droughts. Water scarcity brings a serious threat to agriculture and forest fires are more likely. In Brandenburg, where it rains least, the groundwater has already dropped remarkably. The worst predictions say that groundwater may halve by 2050.

To put a halt to climate change we need to act. Germany’s per capita emissions are at about 10 tonnes per year. BUND believes that by 2020 Germany has to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% compared with its 1990 emissions.

About 40% of Germany’s emissions come from the power generation sector. Germany needs an energy revolution to phase out coal and increase the share of renewable energies. At the same time, we need an energy efficiency program so that less energy is lost during the generation process.

Antje von Brook, BUND/Friends of the Earth Germany