“It would be nice if we had what we know from the south of France on terraces – spray misters like this,” said Lydie Polfer (DP) on Wednesday at “City Breakfast”. At the monthly press conference, she made it clear that the city does not need more greenery. This was then hotly debated on social media. Because if temperatures rise constantly, the will to make cities heat-resistant should also grow.
It is currently hot, especially where there are a lot of people in Luxembourg City. Very hot. There is hardly any shade on the Knuedler or the place de Paris. The capital does have large areas of forest, but not where thousands of people travel every day. Lydie Polfer sees no problem with this. At Pariser Platz, trees would “partially” provide shade, and water fountains would also provide cooling. These may refresh, but they do not provide shade.
Misters and “wonderful terraces” are the city’s answer to increasing heat. For everything else, the mayor relies on personal responsibility: “It is important that people behave responsibly,” she said, referring to free water at drinking fountains and at events. This makes sense, but it does not replace heat-friendly urban planning. Green squares, shady bus stops or awnings are measures that the city can implement itself.
Lydie Polfer insists that largely shadeless – and heated – places like the Knuedler are needed for events Photo: Editpress/Fabrizio Pizzolante
But a greening concept announced a year ago has not yet been presented or even implemented. After hot days last summer Polfer promised in the local council in Julythat the Board of Aldermen “sticks with it” when it comes to greening. Since then, the concept has hardly been talked about. Not even on Wednesday, when the press asked about measures to combat the heat. When asked, the city was unable to provide any information on the status of the greening concept in question by the time of going to press.
Despite rising temperatures, there is no sign of a rethink. Lydie Polfer insists that largely shadeless places like the Knuedler – where the thermometer showed up to 43 degrees on Friday – or the Glacis are needed for concerts, the Schueberfouer or other events. Nobody questions that. But they don’t have to be heat traps. People also need places in the heart of the city where they can breathe deeply in the shade.
It is noteworthy that Environment and Climate Alderman Maurice Bauer (CSV) only a few hours later on Wednesday afternoon at the inauguration of a new garden in the park at “Pescatore” emphasized the importance of additional greenery and even brought mobile trees into play on the glacis. The city of Freiburg, for example, has already implemented such a concept and placed trees in pots in a sealed area. Even the coalition partner now seems to have recognized that the capital needs to rethink its approach.
However, Lydie Polfer made it clear this week that this will not happen with her as mayor. It relies on spray mist instead of more green – and thus ignores reality. Because heat has long been more than just an inconvenience: it is a health risk. A city that wants to protect its population should therefore not discuss whether it needs more shade. She should see how she can take care of this quickly.
