Overview

• Health Senator Ina Czyborra said Berlin will submit its long-awaited heat action plan to the Senate later this year to coordinate cross-departmental relief measures.
• Seven government-funded heat protection centers opened on June 1, offering cooled rooms, showers, meals and up to 30 daytime sleeping spots across the city.
• Peter Bobbert, president of the Berlin Medical Association, warned that heat-related deaths now exceed traffic fatalities and underscored the need for more relief points.
• Advocates highlighted that homeless individuals face heightened risks during heatwaves due to pre-existing health conditions and lack of access to cool retreats.
• Providers warned that austerity measures could threaten these services and called for year-round shelters to eliminate the current gaps between heat and cold assistance.