Berlin's Icy Streets Spark Heated Debate Over Salt Use as Safety and Environment Clash
Berlin is navigating a slippery dilemma as sheets of ice coat its sidewalks following days of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Hospitals across the German capital report a sharp increase in fall-related injuries, turning the city's long-standing ban on de-icing salt into a pressing political and public safety issue.
While many German cities, including Hamburg, have temporarily suspended similar bans to address the hazard, Berlin's prohibition remains in place after a local court this week sided with environmental campaigners. The ruling has intensified a fraught discussion between those prioritizing immediate pedestrian safety and others warning of salt's corrosive impact on urban trees, infrastructure, and wildlife.
"The situation on the ground is becoming critical," said a spokesperson for Berlin's fire department, which recorded over 2,200 emergency calls in a single day last week. "We are seeing injuries that could be preventable."
Melanie von Orlow, head of NABU Berlin, the environmental group that brought the successful legal challenge, defended the court's decision. "Road salt is a major environmental problem," she stated. "It damages tree roots, corrodes buildings and vehicles, and harms animals—it's simply not a sustainable solution."
The political fallout has been swift. The Greens party accused Mayor Kai Wegner's administration of poor winter preparedness, while the far-right AfD called the court ruling a "slap in the face" to residents. Even within the Greens, some figures have expressed frustration. "It's madness to let legal rigidity override common sense when elderly people are afraid to leave their homes," wrote one party lawmaker on social media.
With more icy weather forecast, the German Weather Service is advising pedestrians to wear grippy shoes and adopt a slow, shuffling "penguin walk." But for many Berliners, such advice feels inadequate. The debate underscores a wider European challenge: balancing climate resilience and urban ecology with the practical demands of extreme weather.
Voices from the City:
"This isn't just about salt—it's about a failure of governance. We have technology, we have alternatives, yet the city is frozen in inaction. It's embarrassing for a global capital."
— Lena Schmidt, Urban Planner
"I've lived here 40 years. Yes, salt harms trees, but so does climate change—and right now, people are breaking hips. This ideological purity is costing us in human suffering. Just use the salt temporarily and plant more trees in spring!"
— Thomas Vogel, Retired Teacher (sharply critical)
"As a cyclist and a parent, I see both sides. But the solution can't be to poison our soil and water. The city should invest in mechanical ice removal and better gravel distribution, not revert to a harmful shortcut."
— Aisha Chen, Environmental Engineer
"My grandmother hasn't left her apartment in five days. She's terrified of falling. When did we decide that trees—which can be replaced—are more valuable than an old woman's independence?"
— Markus Weber, IT Consultant