The German Association of Cities and Municipalities (DStGB) is demanding significantly more funding from the federal and state governments to protect against extreme weather events. According to the association, local communities would need to allocate at least eight billion euros each year solely for climate adaptation.
This call came after recent days featured a heatwave with temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) stated on Monday that the existing funds from the special endowment for infrastructure and climate neutrality were sufficient for heat protection. However, the Cities Association strongly disagreed, countering that the overall investment deficit amounts to more than 230 billion euros. Consequently, the approximately 66 billion euros allocated to municipalities from the special endowment was deemed “not even close” to being enough.
The DStGB further proposed making climate protection and climate adaptation a joint responsibility of the federal and state levels, as stipulated in Article 91a of the Basic Law. A spokesperson for the association stated that only through this mechanism could urgently needed measures-such as protecting the population and climatically adapting city and village centers-be properly financed.
Additionally, the DStGB suggests implementing a heat registry, modeled after the system used in France, in cooperation with health insurers. This registry would document vulnerable individuals, predominantly the elderly or those with severe illnesses, who require special attention during heatwaves. During long periods of extreme heat, these people would be checked regularly and provided with water in case of emergency.
The association also urged caution regarding drinking water usage. Extreme heat increases consumption dramatically, due to watering gardens and fields, but also in private households through increased showering and drinking. The DStGB noted that conservative usage during periods of water scarcity-for example, by foregoing lawn watering or filling private pools-could help preserve supplies. This proactive stance would be crucial in preventing temporary usage restrictions from having to be implemented as a last resort.
