The German Association of Cities calls for more financial support from local authorities for adaptation to climate change.

“The necessary conversion to a 'climate change-friendly' city and proactive climate protection will cost a lot of money in the next few years.

The previous funding programs are not sufficient for this, ”said Helmut Dedy, General Manager of the Association of Cities, the FAZ The federal states in particular would have to step up in terms of local climate adaptation, but the federal government also had to“ add a lot financially ”.

Timo Steppat

Editor in politics.

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The local political spokesman for the Union parliamentary group, Christian Haase, sees the states as having an obligation and campaigned for federalism reform, which the CDU and CSU announced in their election manifesto.

"It only helps the municipalities if the task is followed by the financial means," Haase told the FAZ

Social institutions in particular want subsidies for adaptation

After the flood disaster, the interest of cities and municipalities in measures for climate adaptation increased. This emerges from information provided by various advice centers such as the Center for Climate Adaptation or the ICLEI Climate Association to the FAZ. The Federal Environment Ministry is also registering increasing demand for adaptation programs. In 2018 there were 80 applications, last year there were 190. In particular, funding offers for social institutions met with great popularity with 600 applications and a total volume of 100 million euros.

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) criticizes the fact that poor communities are disadvantaged in terms of climate adaptation.

"Cities that are in debt and are under financial supervision are not allowed to take the measures," said Petra Mahrenholz, head of the UBA's Climate Adaptation Competence Center.

CDU politician Haase replied: "The protection of the population is in itself a duty that no local supervision will prevent." The UBA urges politicians to act quickly.

In particular, if it is not possible to limit global warming to two degrees worldwide - which would probably mean a plus of 2.4 degrees for Germany - action must be taken quickly in order to be able to effectively reduce high or very high risks for different regions According to a statement published on Thursday.