Germany’s federal government is committed to enhancing extreme weather alert systems by 2030, aiming to increase the NINA app user base from 12 million to 16 million. The initiative is part of a new climate adaptation strategy addressing severe weather events exacerbated by climate change. Measures include promoting green spaces in urban areas, limiting land consumption, and sustainable water management. However, funding for climate-related initiatives remains a challenge, with a review of the strategy planned every four years.
Crafted with contributions from various agencies.
The federal government is determined to enhance the alert systems for extreme weather occurrences moving forward. By 2030, there will be a substantial expansion of these warning systems, with a key objective being to boost the number of users of the NINA warning app.
This initiative is part of the newly adopted climate adaptation strategy, which establishes measurable and binding targets for addressing increasingly frequent and severe events such as heatwaves, droughts, torrential rains, and flooding—phenomena exacerbated by climate change.
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The catastrophic flood in the Ahr Valley in July 2021 highlighted the dire need for timely warnings: over 135 lives were lost, with thousands more displaced. Many individuals were caught unprepared due to a lack of timely flood alerts. In response, the federal government aims to significantly enhance the warning systems for extreme weather by 2030, expanding their reach and effectiveness. While existing measures like public broadcasts and sirens are in place, the strategy paper acknowledges that there are still ‘gaps in the technical transmission of warning messages‘.
To facilitate swift alerts during disasters, the federal government has set an ambitious goal to increase the NINA app user base from approximately 12 million to 16 million by the end of the decade—an impressive 30% rise. This increase will be supported by extensive educational campaigns. However, a major barrier exists: users must actively download and install the app provided by the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) to receive any warnings.
To protect citizens from extreme heat in the future, urban areas will be encouraged to incorporate more greenery. The aim is to ensure that residents can access green spaces within a reasonable walking distance. By 2030, this access should be ‘at least stable’ in urban areas and surrounding regions of cities with populations exceeding 10,000. In zones particularly susceptible to heat, the quantity of green spaces should not only remain stable but also increase.
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Additionally, the federal government plans to address the issue of impermeable surfaces. Built-up areas can lead to significant risks during heavy rainfall, as water cannot adequately drain away. To combat this, the strategy aims to limit land consumption to below 30 hectares per day by 2030. In recent years, Germany has averaged around 52 hectares of new land designated for traffic and development each day.
The strategy also mandates that no more than 20% of the available water resources be utilized, ensuring sustainable management and avoiding shortages. Prioritizing the supply of drinking water to the public is crucial. Furthermore, effective water management practices are to be implemented to stabilize agricultural yields against climate variability by 2030, matching current fluctuation levels. The climate adaptation strategy requires that by 2030, 80% of legally obligated municipalities must have established climate adaptation frameworks, whereas only about 10 to 15% of municipalities and 26% of counties have developed such plans to date.
Despite the adoption of this new strategy, the issue of funding for climate-related expenses remains unresolved. Environment Minister Steffi Lemke pointed out that since 2000, Germany has incurred climate-related damages totaling around 145 billion euros. The Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) has called for a comprehensive financing strategy. A proposal to embed climate adaptation financing as a shared responsibility of the federal and state governments in the Basic Law has yet to gain momentum.
This climate adaptation strategy will remain in effect until a subsequent government adopts a new strategy. After four years, a review and further development of the current strategy will occur, with the federal and state governments jointly monitoring the achievement of the initial binding goals. However, according to Lemke, no penalties are planned for not meeting these targets.