German Environmental Ministers Back Accelerated Flood Protection Measures

Meeting in the flood-ravaged Ahr Valley, officials endorsed new legislation and called for constitutional changes to address climate challenges.

The Environmental Ministers' Conference took place in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, a region devastated by the 2021 floods that claimed 135 lives.
Ministers supported a new flood protection law, emphasizing the need to expedite planning and approval processes by designating such projects as of 'overriding public interest.'
Discussions included a proposal to amend Germany's constitution to make climate protection and adaptation a joint federal-state responsibility, with plans for a formal draft underway.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke highlighted the importance of natural climate protection initiatives and received cross-party backing for her efforts.
Environmental groups and activists, including Greenpeace, urged swift action on broader ecological issues, including addressing risks from Russia's shadow oil fleet and implementing EU conservation mandates.