German government approves climate adaptation strategy to better prepare for global warming

The German government has approved its climate adaptation strategy to better prepare the country for dealing with extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, heavy rainfall, or floods, that are expected to occur more frequently due to global warming. The strategy outlines more than 30 targets and 180 measures to better integrate responses from civil society, businesses and public authorities, the country’s environment ministry (BMUV) said.

Climate adaptation was made a task for the state by law in 2023, which now compels the government to pursue a nationwide adaptation strategy with quantifiable goals. "For the first time, we are setting measurable targets and indicators in order to make progress in dealing with climate impacts such as increasing heat and heavy rainfall transparent and to be able to make adjustments in future," said environment minister Steffi Lemke. This would pave the way for “dynamic climate adaptation management,” Lemke said.

The strategy will receive an update every four years, with 2030 and 2050 defined as milestones for meeting adaptation goals. Measures that the government will pursue to meet the targets include the greening of cities to reduce heat stress, making agricultural businesses more responsive to changes in climate and harsh weather conditions, and requiring municipalities to draft tailor-made adaptation concepts.

The environment ministry added that some of the targets are derived in a complex way that makes measuring progress a challenge or only possible with long delays, for example regarding the rearrangement of forest vegetation or infrastructure changes in cities. “All targets are measurable in principle, but some of them do not come with a reference or target value and rather just indicate trends,” the BMUV said.

The Federation of German Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) called the strategy “a first step” in making the country ready for a warmer world and increasing extreme weather threats. “Especially, measures to reduce area use and to avoid the sealing of soils are a central pillar,” said BDEW water management head Martin Weyand. He argued that existing concepts to better manage irrigation and keeping spaces open for rain to drain away should be complemented by “sponge city” concepts that put water management on a new footing in urban areas. Weyand added that besides agricultural businesses, industrial companies also had to play a part in optimising their use of water.

The Association of Local Public Utilities (VKU) said the strategy would be an important tool for better adaptation but criticised it for lacking “a clear funding plan for this multi-generational task.”