Record temperatures and a lack of water have also been a concern for politicians in Berlin for weeks: now the SPD federal ministers have drawn up an action program against the heat. In addition to a national heat action plan, the program includes, among other things, changes to building planning law and the protection of employees against extreme temperatures.
"The consequences of climate change are affecting people around the world and increasingly affecting us in Germany. Currently, mainly heat, drought, forest fires and low water - but also heavy rain, floods, water shortages and exposure to UV rays," says the four-page paper, which is also available to the ARD capital studio. Der Spiegel first reported on it.
Secure funding through constitutional amendment
The Ministers for Finance, Social Affairs and Labor, Building and Development support the demand recently put forward by Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider to change the Basic Law on heat protection and to anchor it as a “joint task for climate adaptation and nature conservation”. “It is a prerequisite for the federal government to participate in the financing of local and state tasks and thus to be able to participate in climate adaptation and nature conservation measures in a long-term, legally secure and comprehensive manner,” the program says.
The SPD cabinet members are apparently dissatisfied with the uncoordinated actions of the federal, state and local governments. The Union rejected a change to the Basic Law this week. A change would be “cheap and brings nothing,” said the new CDU general secretary Franziska Hoppermann to the Rheinische Post. It would lead to new disputes over responsibilities.
The Union faction also sees a need for clarification regarding responsibilities in the paper that has now been presented. These are not regulated, explained the Union parliamentary group vice-president Klaus Mack (CDU), who is responsible for the environment and climate protection, to the AFP news agency today. He called on the SPD ministers to clarify their proposal. It would have to be clear what “added value” a change to the Basic Law would bring compared to existing funding.
Immediate measures also required
The paper from the SPD ministerial team contains around a dozen suggestions, including immediate measures. Accordingly, the existing federal funding instruments should be bundled into an immediate program and better coordinated with each other. Projects in old people's homes or hospitals, for example, should benefit so that they do not heat up so much or can be cooled down with appropriate technology.
Facade adjustments and energy-saving renovations should also be supported. Employees should be better protected from heat by the state advising employers. Natural climate protection - for example through the renaturation of rivers and moors - should be promoted.
Group supports plan
The ministers receive support from the SPD parliamentary group. Group deputy Esra Limbacher told the Rheinische Post that the group supports the action program and the inclusion of a “joint task of climate adaptation” in the constitution. According to the Environment Ministry, the paper is part of the preparatory work for the cabinet meeting next week.
The ministers go on to write in the paper that the economic consequences are unmistakable. Europe is warming more than the rest of the world, Germany has already warmed by 2.5 degrees since the pre-industrial age: "The urgency of effective measures in Germany, Europe and worldwide is obvious."
