Healthy Earth – Healthy People: We don't need to save the climate, we need to save ourselves!

Climate change is no longer just an environmental problem – it affects us all directly: our health, our well-being, and our future. But what does that mean in concrete terms? What changes are we facing, and how can we respond to them?

Human health is already being affected by climate change in many ways: prolonged heat waves lead to various health problems such as cardiovascular disease, increased allergic reactions, and even more deaths. People in cities and large urban areas are particularly affected by heat.

Due to the high level of surface sealing, urban areas heat up particularly strongly and cool down only slightly at night. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly or sick need special protection and adaptation measures.

“By 2050, seven out of ten people will live in cities. Climate change is particularly noticeable here. Heat protection must become a greater focus of federal policy,” said First Mayor Prof. Dr. Diana Pretzell from Mannheim. The city is one of the hottest cities in Germany and has already implemented many measures to adapt to climate change.

“It's hard to save the world on a voluntary basis when others are destroying it full-time,” says Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen, founder of the "Gesunde Erde – Gesunde Menschen" Foundation. Hirschhausen shows how closely our personal health is linked to the health of the planet.

In our panel discussion, experts from science, medicine, business, and local politics will highlight the challenges we face and which scenarios are realistic. But it's not just about problems—we'll also talk about how we can adapt our living spaces and what is already being done. We will discuss solutions that will make our society more sustainable, healthier, and more resilient.

Join us, discuss with our panel guests, and ask your questions!

Dr. med. Eckart von Hirschhausen
Managing Director of the foundation "Gesunde Erde - Gesunde Menschen", medical doctor and science journalist

Prof. Dr. Matthias Orban
Senior Medical Consultant, Munich Re 

Prof. Dr. Diana Pretzell
First Mayor of the City of Mannheim

Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
Medical doctor, Professor of Environmental Medicine, University of Augsburg, and member of the WBGU Advisory Board

Moderation

Dr. med. Eckart von Hirschhausen 

Event language: German

Location: Munich Re, Saal Europe, Giselastraße 21, 80802 München

Time: 27 November 2025, 19:00