Olaf Bandt, Chairman of the German Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), criticized Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) for failing to invite environmental organizations to his “Low Water Conference.” Bandt stated that the lack of any environmental groups at the event indicated that the federal government is only focusing on the immediate economic consequences of low water levels, while overlooking the actual underlying problems.
Bandt stressed that what Germany requires are long-term and sustainable solutions. He argued that the low river levels are not a short-term weather anomaly but rather a symptom of the climate crisis. He warned that Germany is acting too hesitantly and too late in protecting its water resources.
For the BUND, the core issues demand a significant shift in approach. Bandt insisted that the country must retain more water in its catchment areas, reduce water extraction, and make its rivers climate resilient. He emphasized the necessity of adhering to the National Water Strategy, which requires that intact river landscapes are treated as natural water reservoirs that must be ecologically strengthened.
The BUND urged that the inland shipping industry be adapted to the condition of the rivers, rather than the river being modified for ships. Bandt asserted that low water levels cannot simply be solved by dredging. According to the National Water Strategy, the primary goal should be safeguarding surface and groundwater reserves while preserving the ecological functions of the rivers.
In terms of practical solutions, the BUND proposed replacing the process of deepening rivers for ever-larger ships with the introduction of new vessel types suited for low water conditions. To facilitate this, appropriate incentives should be created, and existing funding programs need to be enhanced.
Furthermore, the organization called for the reintroduction of standard practices related to inventory management (lagerhaltung) to mitigate supply chain disruptions, especially since such extreme low water levels are expected to become more frequent, even on the Rhine. To prevent transport restrictions during periods of severe drought, the BUND also argued that rail transport must become a financially competitive alternative. Therefore, substantial investments in the railway network, specifically dedicated to freight transport, are deemed essential.
