Overview
- Lawmakers approved the bill in a special session convened to meet a four‑month statutory deadline for acting on the citizen initiative.
- The statute largely adopts the BaumEntscheid proposal after negotiations with the governing CDU and SPD.
- The program is costed at about €3.2 billion over 15 years, down from earlier estimates above €7 billion, with financing options including a federal special fund and private contributions still under discussion.
- Beyond tree planting, the law sets binding targets to cool 170 heat districts by two degrees through greening and de‑sealing and to create accessible cooling islands.
- Senate and districts must file funded heat action plans, and a five‑member independent scientific council will monitor implementation and publish evaluations.