Germany urges green roofs to combat worsening heat wave

The latest heat‑check by the German environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) warns that German cities are facing increasingly extreme temperatures as urban green spaces disappear. Nearly a million trees and valuable green areas have been lost, and the extent of sealed surfaces continues to grow, worsening the urban heat island effect.

DUH calls for a binding heat‑protection master plan that includes mandatory standards for city greenery. The modular‑building firm Adapteo points to existing solutions, such as extensive roof‑greening, which can lower indoor temperatures by up to 15 % and provide ecological benefits like micro‑climate regulation, dust capture and habitat creation. Adapteo’s CEO Benjamin von Schretter urges municipalities to incorporate green roofs into construction tenders, noting that installation costs range from €30 to €55 per square metre. The company also offers modular school buildings with sustainable energy concepts, aiming to help cities meet climate‑resilient infrastructure goals.