Inundation - Official: Mandatory coverage for natural disasters
Liability insurance against natural disasters could lead to a more equitable situation, asserts Ingmar Jung, the Environment Minister of Hesse (CDU). He made this remark towards the end of the Environment Minister Conference (UMK) in Bad Dürkheim last Friday.
Jung emphasized that the taxpayer is expected to intervene whenever the damage caused is massive, particularly when the media spotlight is bright, whereas those affected by less visible occurrences are often neglected. This highlights the necessity for liability insurance for property owners.
There was a unanimous consensus among the state environment ministers under the umbrella of UMK, though the federal government was not explicitly mentioned in their support. Stefan Tidow (Greens), State Secretary in the Federal Environment Ministry, reaffirmed that the federal government was still involved in the conversation. Relevant discussions concerning the topic are currently being carried out under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Justice, with a collaborative workgroup consisting of the federal and state governments. Proposals are expected, and debates over potential models are essential.
Several aspects of such a liability insurance are yet to be determined. Jung emphasized the pressures of affordability. While flood zones are the immediate focus, past extreme weather events indicate that damage can occur in other areas as well. There is a need for categorizations, potentially with elements of self-participation, according to Jung's statements in Bad Dürkheim.
The UMK also reached a decision to modify a regulation in Lower Saxony, as it was halted due to a rapid wolf cull because of wild boar's damage. The federal government is expected to amend this rule by August this year. Consequently, a central practice guide for such culls needs to be reviewed. If the current practice guide proves unworkable, Jung stated that the federal government will initiate the necessary legal adjustments. With Hesse taking the lead, "this is the first step that has to be followed by others." The black-red political bloc in Hesse aims to include wolves in the hunting law.
