How one German city is preparing for climate extremes
Western Europe has recorded its hottest-ever June and July, and extreme weather from wildfires to storms is here to stay. How can we adapt to what seems to be the new normal? Cities like Kiel are trying new ideas.
In October 2023, a severe storm surge in the Baltic Sea ravaged the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein and parts of southern Denmark. The catastrophic event, the worst to hit the region in over 150 years, destroyed dikes, collapsed coastal cliffs and devastated marinas. Kiel, the port city and Schleswig-Holstein's capital, lost 2.68 meters of coastal bluff, which is more than four times the annual average lost over the previous two decades.
Martina Baum, who heads the city's climate adaptation division, emphasized that the impacts of climate change are already impossible to ignore in Kiel. Since at least the 2023 storm surge, the city has been reminded of the profound effects it can have on daily lives and the environment. Kiel, one of the first cities to declare a climate emergency in 2019, is now rethinking its design and working on becoming more resilient to weather extremes.
Adaptation is not a substitute for reducing fossil fuel emissions, but it complements climate protection efforts. Baum explained that limiting warming will reduce future damage. While installing air-conditioning in buildings can protect vulnerable people during heat waves, it increases energy consumption, which could counteract climate protection goals.
However, Kiel is exploring solutions like adding vegetation to building facades, redesigning parks for natural cooling, and providing residents with permits and grants for adaptation projects.
The city is also testing which tree species can survive future conditions, adding vegetation to building facades, and designing multi-use spaces to manage stormwater during heavy rainfall. Baum highlighted the need for public debate to help residents understand the trade-offs and prioritize adaptation measures. Stürmer, who organizes educational events and leads public excursions, found it easier to discuss adaptation than climate change, as the latter is more abstract. Recent heat waves have further emphasized the urgency of adaptation efforts.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
