Stuttgart, Germany, May 14, 2025. In July 2021, around 200 liters of rain per square meter fell in the Ahr Valley within a very short period of time. The consequences were devastating: more than 135 people died and the infrastructure was extensively destroyed. Scientific studies have shown that heavy rainfall events of this type are now 1.2 to 9 times more likely due to climate change. These examples illustrate the increasing need to focus on measures that counteract the impact of climate change on a forward-looking basis. The rural district of Cochem-Zell has set itself this task and is currently developing a climate adaptation plan. The experts of Stuttgart-based Drees & Sommer, a consultancy firm which specializes in construction, real estate and infrastructure, assist and support the District Administration in this task, together with the Austrian company alpS. An analysis of the impact on the region carried out by a team of specialists already indicates that the frequency of extreme weather events such as heat, heavy rain and forest fires will also increase significantly in Cochem-Zell. 

As an important first step for all German municipalities, on May 15, 2025, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) will open a new funding window as part of the guideline on measures for adapting to the consequences of climate change. Its aim is to support and accelerate municipal climate adaptation projectsⁱ.

"We are already feeling the effects of climate change quite clearly in the region," says District Administrator Anke Beilstein. The average temperature has risen by up to 1.8 degrees Celsius, frosty nights are becoming an exception, there are more and more longer dry spells and in 2024, the Moselle wine-growing region recorded its smallest harvest in decades. In order to better adapt the administrative district to the future consequences of climate change, a comprehensive climate adaptation plan will be developed from November 2024 to October 2026. Our target is to analyze the existing structures, identify the need for action and then develop concrete measures. "We are checking which capacities, plans and approaches already exist, and we looking at where we need to make specific changes," explains the Climate Manager of the rural district of Cochem-Zell, Dominik Zell. 

Between Low Mountain Ranges and the Moselle Valley

The rural district of Cochem-Zell is strongly marked by its natural landscape: to the north-west the eastern Eifel mountain range rises up, with the wooded plateaus of the Hunsrück upland to the south. In between, the Moselle meanders in a deep valley. It not only forms the geographical backbone of the region, but also poses a risk: Tanja Sprenger, Leading Consultant at Drees & Sommer, comments: "In heavy rainfall, the river swells considerably within a short time. This increases the risk of flooding, particularly in the more densely populated parts of the valley, but also in the surrounding areas, in the immediate vicinity of streams.” These are the results of the impact analysis, which Tanja Sprenger and her team carried out at the beginning of the project on climate adaptation. Both the climatic changes in the region and their impact on key areas of life and the economy were examined. Based on these analyses, the Leading Consultant and her team staff developed well-founded scenarios that show which climatic trends the rural district can expect in the future.

The results paint a clear picture: "A significant rise in temperature is to be expected in all natural spaces," says Tanja Sprenger. According to forecasts, the frequency of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and the length of dry spells will also increase significantly. "It is not just about damage to buildings or roads," emphasizes the expert, “but also about the health and lives of people and the stability of entire ecosystems. These are coming under severe pressure from various sources.”

Concrete Measures for Adaption to the Consequences of Climate Change

Although the residents of the district are used to flooding due to the Moselle regularly overflowing, the combination of steep slopes and more extreme heavy rainfall increases the risk of flash flooding. Tanja Sprenger points out: "Complete protection is hardly feasible. So, it is all the more important to take measures to mitigate the impact." This risk has already been recognized in the local authorities and associations of municipalities, and various contingency plans for heavy rainfall are being developed to counteract it. Classic measures for this could include the expansion and optimization of retention basins. 

Just how urgently action is needed in this direction was impressively demonstrated by the floods in 2023. Existing protective walls reached their limits in several municipalities in the Cochem-Zell rural district, for example in Zell. But climate adaptation involves more than just flood protection. The rural district also wants to take steps against more frequent heat waves and rising temperatures. Nature-based solutions can be particularly effective for this purpose. For example, plants can have a cooling effect through the evaporation of water. The greening of roofs and façades, the planting of climate-resilient trees and sustainable land use can help in this respect. "This not only enhances the microclimate, but also strengthens valuable ecological habitats," emphasizes the expert.

As climate adaptation is a duty for society as a whole that benefits from considering different viewpoints, Tanja Sprenger and her team focus on active participation: “For us, it is important to involve people at an early stage – through workshops, public events and digital formats. In this way, we can share our expertise but also get relevant information on local particularities from the citizens. This enables us to jointly develop viable solutions.”

Subsidy Programs and New Legal Impetus

The long-term costs of climate change are estimated to be much higher than an investment in climate adaption and protection measures at an early stage: “The time to act is now. It is about limiting the damage to environment, economy and society,” says District Administrator Anke Beilstein.

The German federal government provides specific support to administrative districts and municipalities in order to promote appropriate measures at local level. Since July 2024, the German Climate Adaptation Act (Klimaanpassungsgesetz – KAnG) has also provided a binding framework. It requires the federal states to develop their own adaptation strategies and to ensure that the municipalities also develop and implement appropriate plans. A recent representative survey commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) shows that a lot is already happening in this regard. Over 40 percent of the municipalities surveyed have already implemented climate adaptation measures, and almost as many are planning specific steps[i].

From May 15, 2025, there will also be a new funding window within the scope of the German Climate Adaptation Act that specifically supports the development and implementation of municipal climate adaptation plans – for three months until August 15, 2025[ii].