Around 200 litres of rain per square metre fell in the Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in July 2021 within a very short period of time – with devastating consequences: over 135 people died and infrastructure was destroyed across a wide area. Scientific studies have found that such heavy rainfall events are now 1.2 to 9 times more likely due to climate change. Examples like these make it clear that there is an increasing need to focus on measures that proactively counteract the effects of climate change.
The district of Cochem-Zell in Germany is addressing this challenge and is currently developing a climate adaptation concept. The district administration is being supported in this by Drees & Sommer, a consulting company specialising in construction, real estate and infrastructure, in cooperation with the Austrian company alpS. The impact analysis of the region carried out by the team of experts already shows that the frequency of extreme weather events such as heat, heavy rain and forest fires will also increase significantly in Cochem-Zell in the future.
An important impetus for all German municipalities to take the first step is that on 15 May 2025, the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) will open a new funding window as part of the “Measures to adapt to the consequences of climate change” funding guideline. The aim is to provide targeted support and accelerate municipal climate adaptation projects.
“We are already feeling the effects of climate change in the region,” says District Administrator Anke Beilstein. The average temperature has risen by up to 1.8 degrees, frosty nights are becoming the exception, longer dry spells are increasing, and in 2024 the Moselle wine-growing region recorded its lowest harvest in decades. In order to better adapt the district to the consequences of climate change in the future, a comprehensive climate adaptation concept will be developed between November 2024 and October 2026. The aim is to analyse existing structures, identify areas where action is needed and develop concrete measures. ‘”We are examining what capacities, plans and approaches are already in place – and where we need to take targeted action,” says Dominik Zell, climate adaptation manager for the district of Cochem-Zell.
Between the low mountain range and the Moselle valley
The district of Cochem-Zell is strongly influenced by its natural environment: the heights of the Eastern Eifel rise in the north-west, while the densely wooded plateaus of the Hunsrück lie to the south. In between, the Moselle winds its way through a deep valley – not only forming the geographical backbone of the region, but also posing a risk: “During heavy rainfall, the river swells rapidly within a short period of time. This increases the risk of flooding, especially in the more densely populated sections of the valley, but also in the surrounding area in the immediate vicinity of streams,” says Tanja Sprenger, Leading Consultant at Drees & Sommer. The findings come from a comprehensive impact analysis that Sprenger and her team carried out at the start of the climate adaptation project. The analysis examined both the climatic changes in the region and their impact on key areas of life and the economy. Based on the analysis, Sprenger and her team at Drees & Sommer developed well-founded future scenarios that show the climatic developments the district can expect in the future.
The results paint a clear picture: “A significant rise in temperature is to be expected in all natural areas,” says Sprenger. According to forecasts, the frequency of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and the length of dry spells will also increase significantly. “This is not just about damage to buildings or roads,” emphasises the expert, “but also about people's health and lives, as well as the stability of entire ecosystems, which are coming under severe pressure from increasing stresses.”
Concrete measures for climate adaptation
Although the residents of the district are already used to flooding due to the Moselle regularly bursting its banks, the combination of steep slopes and more extreme heavy rainfall increases the risk of flash floods. ‘”Complete protection is hardly feasible – which makes it all the more important to take measures to mitigate the effects,” says Tanja Sprenger. This danger has already been recognised in the local and association municipalities, and various heavy rainfall concepts are being developed to counteract it. Classic measures for this include the expansion and optimisation of retention areas. The urgency of the need for action was impressively demonstrated by the floods in 2023: in several municipalities in the Cochem-Zell district – such as Zell – existing protective walls reached their limits.
But climate adaptation means more than flood protection. The district also wants to take measures against more frequent heat waves and rising temperatures. So-called nature-based solutions are particularly effective here. For example, plants can have a cooling effect through the evaporation of water, which can be achieved by greening roofs and facades, planting climate-resilient trees and sustainable land use. “This not only improves the microclimate, but also strengthens valuable ecological habitats,” emphasises Sprenger.
Since climate adaptation is a task for society as a whole that benefits from taking different perspectives into account, Tanja Sprenger's team is committed to active participation: “It is important to us to get people on board at an early stage – through workshops, public events and digital formats in which we share our knowledge, but also gain important local insights from citizens, enabling us to develop viable solutions together.”
Funding programmes and new legal impetus
The long-term costs of climate change are estimated to be significantly higher than early investments in climate adaptation and protection. “That is why we must act now to limit damage to the environment, the economy and society,” says District Administrator Beilstein.
The German federal government provides targeted support to districts and municipalities to promote appropriate measures at the local level. Since July 2024, the Climate Adaptation Act (KAnG) has also created a binding framework: it obliges the federal states to develop their own adaptation strategies and to ensure that municipalities also develop and implement appropriate concepts. A recent representative survey commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) shows that a lot is already happening in this area: over 40 per cent of the local authorities surveyed have already implemented climate adaptation measures, and almost as many are planning concrete stepsi.
From 15 May 2025, there will also be a new funding window under the KAnG that will specifically support the development and implementation of municipal climate adaptation concepts – for three months until 15 August 2025ii.