Starting signal for the first nationwide "Climate Adaptation Week

Source: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, September 12, 2022

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke today gave the starting signal for the first nationwide "Week of Climate Adaptation"

With the week of action, the BMUV gives the diverse actors of climate adaptation throughout Germany a new platform. Especially municipalities use the opportunity to present their versatile ideas and innovative projects to the public. Well over half of the more than 200 events come from cities, districts or municipal institutions and companies. In addition, many institutions and organizations at federal and state level are taking part. The action week is hosted by the Federal Environment Ministry and organized by the Center Climate Adaptation.

Steffi Lemke: "The climate crisis is a very real threat to more and more people in Germany. This summer shows us that abundantly clear: heat waves heat up our cities and make especially children, the elderly and people with diseases to create. The ongoing drought is weakening forests, promoting forest fires and significantly lowering river levels. The answer is first and foremost climate protection, but also climate adaptation and risk prevention. Local authorities in particular are called upon to find effective measures for the respective challenges on site. Numerous cities and districts are already active in this area and are demonstrating how innovative and effective climate adaptation can be during the 'Week of Climate Adaptation'. It is also a 'Week of Appreciation' for those who have been working on the topic of climate adaptation for a long time. The federal government supports cities and municipalities in their climate adaptation since this year additionally with the immediate program climate adaptation."

Jens Hasse, head of the Center Climate Adaptation: "Heavy rain, floods, extreme heat periods and prolonged droughts, all people in Germany already feel their consequences directly. The climate crisis has reached the center of society. Climate adaptation must also reach the middle of society. With the 'Week of Climate Adaptation' we want to create awareness and show what great importance climate adaptation has for the future viability of our country, what commitment there is already and how climate adaptation is spreading into the area."

Greeting by Steffi Lenke to the Week of Climate Adaptation

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke today opened the "Week of Climate Adaptation" with a video message. Under the motto: "Together for Climate Adaptation!" a variety of actors at all levels present themselves with their commitment and actions for climate adaptation. Thus, people in Germany can participate in more than 200 lectures, further education, exhibitions, thematic city tours, weekly market and children's actions and experience how diverse and innovative climate adaptation can be in Germany. In addition to knowledge transfer formats, the partners will also demonstrate concrete adaptation measures in municipalities and social institutions. The festive conclusion will be the awarding of the federal "Blue Compass" prize to particularly innovative climate adaptation projects on September 16, 2022. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and UBA President Dirk Messner will present the awards at the Federal Environment Ministry in Berlin.

You can find the full press release with detailed information as well as the video message of the Federal Environment Minister here.