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The flood disaster in Bad Neuenahr in July 2021
Photo:
Thomas Frey / dpa
In response to the devastating floods of July this year, the federal states are demanding more money from the federal government and clear legal regulations for measures to adapt to climate change.
"It is time to get a climate adaptation law on the way," warned Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) on Monday in Schwerin after a special meeting of the state department heads.
The effects of climate change are real.
The state has a protective mandate to fulfill.
Backhaus campaigned for a pact for climate adaptation, for which the federal government should provide one billion euros annually.
In addition, the sale of federally owned land, which can also be used for flood protection, must be stopped.
The environment ministers of the federal states called for an improvement of the flood early warning system for smaller rivers as well.
The reason for the digital special conference of the environment ministers was the extremely heavy rain on July 14th and 15th, as a result of which brooks in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia swelled into torrents within a very short time and left a picture of devastation.
According to the latest information, more than 180 people were killed in the flood.
ngo / dpa
