Health Concerns Prompt Call for Climate-Resilient Maternity Wards
Amid growing concerns about the health risks posed by heat stress to pregnant women, Christos Pantazis, a health policy spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in the German Bundestag, has advocated for the widespread installation of air conditioning in maternity wards and increased public awareness campaigns.
Speaking to the Funke Media Group, Pantazis emphasized the seriousness with which the SPD takes the dangers of heat, particularly for expectant mothers. He stated that a combination of education, targeted infrastructure development – specifically mentioning maternity wards – and improved training for medical professionals represents a necessary and politically feasible approach.
Pantazis, who is also a physician, explained that temperature-controlled environments can help mitigate heat stress, thereby reducing health risks such as circulatory strain and premature birth. He believes that equipping all maternity wards with air conditioning is a highly sensible and justifiable measure from a medical perspective. Generally, the SPD views climate protection as intrinsically linked to public health.
He further argued that modern hospital infrastructure must include climate-adapted facilities, especially in sensitive areas like obstetrics. Pantazis noted that federal authorities are currently examining how funding for hospitals can be redirected to support climate-friendly and equitable investments. However, he clarified that hospital investments primarily fall under the responsibility of the individual German states.
Germany has experienced a threefold increase in the average number of heat days since the 1950s due to human-caused global warming, reaching an average of 11.5 heat days per year. Without a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, cities like Berlin could face 20 to 35 heat days annually between 2071 and 2100. Adherence to the Paris Agreement’s climate goals could limit this number to an average of ten to 16 heat days per year.