Federal Council clears the way for mandatory climate adaptation
According to the draft law, this should create a strategic framework for precautionary climate adaptation at all administrative levels in Germany for the first time. In addition to risk analyses and advisory services, it also provides for mandatory monitoring.
"Climate adaptation must take place everywhere," said Christiane Rohleder (Greens), State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, on Friday in the Bundesrat. This is about questions of justice and the equivalence of living conditions. Rohleder described climate adaptation as an "important issue for improving the quality of life for everyone in Germany".
The Ministry of the Environment had already pointed out that since 2000, extreme weather events - many of which, according to experts, were caused or exacerbated by climate change - have caused damage in Germany amounting to more than 145 billion euros. Since 2018 alone, this has amounted to around 80 billion euros.
According to a study by the Federal Ministry of Economics, extreme weather and climate impacts could also result in economic follow-up costs of up to 900 billion euros by the middle of the century.
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- The draft law, endorsed by the Federal Council, aims to establish a mandatory scheme for climate adaptation strategies across all administrative levels in Germany, thereby ensuring that the nation is prepared away from potential climate-related risks.
- In aligning with the Federal Council's decision, the German government, represented by Christiane Rohleder (Greens), emphasized the importance of climate adaptation as a duty, encompassing concerns of justice and equality in living conditions, not just in specific regions, but For everyone within Germany.
- Recognizing the need for proactive measures, the Bundestag should now address the urgent need to implement climate adaptation strategies across Germany, in light of the escalating costs of extreme weather events, amounting to over 145 billion euros from 2000 up until now, with a significant portion of that damage occurring in the last three years.
- As Germany seeks to heed its obligation in addressing global warming, the Federal Council's action to enforce mandatory climate adaptation strategies could potentially serve as a model for other nations, inspiring a global shift towards collective responsibility and free-will cooperation for the wellbeing of current and future generations.
- In the face of these challenges, the German government must make use of all resources available to ensure a smooth transition towards climate adaptation, including the involvement of various stakeholders and providing financial support for organizations that contribute to the successful implementation of climate adaptation plans, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding the nation's prosperity and preserving its natural heritage.
Source: www.stern.de
