Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) is pushing for amendments to Germany’s Basic Law, aiming to improve how the federal government can support states and local municipalities in adapting to climate change.
Schneider informed “Spiegel” that the current system of using federal funds for climate adaptation is overly complex. He cited the example that, as the federal minister for the environment, he is currently prevented by the constitutional division of labor between the federal and state levels from even promoting the installation of air conditioning in hospitals.
The Environment Minister stated that if the federal government is to fund more than just isolated pilot projects, climate adaptation must be established as a shared task between the Bund and the Länder. He is ready to change the Basic Law to this effect and is working on a specific proposal. If the Bundestag and the Bundesrat approve it with a two-thirds majority, the federal government could contribute to the costs and collaborate with the states in a structured manner. Politically, the coalition of the Union and the SPD in the Bundestag would require support from two of the three opposition parties (The Greens, The Left, or AfD) for this change to pass.
The existing coalition agreement already outlines the implementation of the climate adaptation strategy through the use of current funding programs. According to the agreement, the government is focused on solidifying the financing of preventative measures alongside the states and supporting municipalities. This is to be done by establishing a special framework plan for nature conservation and climate adaptation, and by reviewing the introduction of a shared responsibility for this matter.
