32Water Management

The Fight Against Climate Change
as an Opportunity in Germany?
Current Developments and Further Needs where Water is in Excess
Flérida Regueira Cortizo, Annika Förster, Michael Schnabel and Daniela Vaziri (Berlin/Germany)

It is uncommon for northern European cities to feel like tropical countries in early summer. Berlin in June 2017 presented
one of these rare exceptions. There would be no cause for serious concern had the city not been deluged by more than fourtimes the average monthly rainfall, flooding several areas inthe city. Similar extreme weather events occurred across Germany and Europe.
In August 2017, 30 European partners published the resultsof a study funded by the European Research Council in thejournal Science. Using a new international river flow dataset of
unparalleled scale and diversity, the researchers provide an explanation for the link between climate change and floods.
Germans say es ist fünf vor zwölf – meaning it’s five totwelve – to express that time is running out. The impact of climate change has created a need for improved monitoring ofwater resources and aquatic systems as well as extreme weather events. New flood prediction and prevention methods, tools,and technologies are needed more than ever before.
With the clock ticking, challenges need to be addressed
promptly. A solid framework for this is essential. The German
Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change aims to reduce vulnerability and improve adaptive capacity to climate change.
The strategy specifies the consequences of climate change for
13 sectors in Germany and presents mitigation measures. The
strategy is integrated into an international framework of climate change measures.
Active involvement in international scientific networks andstrategic partnerships between institutions and companies are
essential parts of climate research. German cities in particular
are supporting the development and application of technologies that offer new solutions to climate change challenges. According to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), more than90 percent of all major German cities (76 cities with more than
100 000 inhabitants) are actively developing concepts andstrategies to adapt to climate change. The primary instruments
include specific local and regional adaptation measures, planning parameters, and structural measures.
Considering that extreme events such as water shortages or
heavy rainfall and the resulting floods will occur more often in
the future, efficient water use, flood and sea protection, andthe related infrastructure must be improved. Awareness needs
to be raised about the risks and information should be provided to prevent damage to property and persons.

a Korrespondenz Abwasser, Abfall · International Special Edition 2018/2019

What can be done where water is in excess?
Climate modeling instruments can help highlight regions
where water is in excess. In Germany, more than 50 research
institutions share findings from climate and adaptation research on the Klimanavigator platform. The resulting modelingsystems have a high spatial resolution, which enables smallscale structures, such as those in mountainous regions, to bedescribed. The models offer a higher level of detail about thedistribution of temperature and precipitation. Additionally, thesystem is able to produce simulations of weather extremes suchas intensive convective precipitation or storms.
Particular attention needs to be paid to the way drainage
systems are planned. Reservoirs and water treatment plants
need to be equipped to handle larger volumes to prevent combined sewer systems from flooding. Furthermore, customized
area management needs to restrict the sealing of surfaces – especially in highly populated areas – to ensure rainwater cansoak away in case of heavy rain events. The so-called “spongecity” concept calls for urban areas to be adapted to collect rainwater on green roofs or in public places, and even to allow
these areas to flood for a short time when there is water in excess. This concept is already being implemented in the city ofHamburg through its green roof strategy.
Last but not least, flood retention areas need to be created.
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD – Directive
2000/60/EC) and the EU Flood Risk Management Directive(FRMD – Directive 2007/60/EC) already stipulate an integrated management of river basins with coordinated protection
and usage requirements. In Germany the federal government
and the states have identified priority measures for the rivers
Elbe, Danube, Rhine, Weser and Oder under the National Flood
Protection Program. More than 20 000 hectares of wetland will
be restored throughout Germany, creating more than 1.2 million cubic meters of additional containment volume as assessable polder. The program includes 32 interregional projects fordike relocation, 59 projects for controlled flood retention, and16 projects covering vulnerabilities.
However, implementing these measures requires the publicand private sector to work hand in hand. New technologies
from innovative companies are needed to ensure that Germany reaches its ambitious goals for adaptation to climate change.
This is why strong support is available to foreign firms consid-en.dwa.de/journals.html

Water Management

ering an investment in the field of climate change adaptationin Germany.

Further information:www.foerderdatenbank.de

Financing and incentive instruments
Enterprises in the climate change adaptation sector that areplanning to establish a facility in the promising German market can take advantage of a wide range of financing and incentive instruments.
Direct grants and other funding instruments, e. g. public
promotional loans, public guarantees, and equity capital, canreduce investment costs significantly in designated support areas.
Visit www.gtai.de/incentives for a wide range of informationon the available incentives and funding. Here is a quick overview of a small selection of relevant R&D financing and incentive instruments.

NaWaM supports R&D in the field of sustainable
water management
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) promotes the development of innovative technologies, processes,
and systemic solutions for sustainable water management
through the “Sustainable Water Management” (NaWaM) funding program. The aim is to develop key technologies in cooperation with industry, adapt them to changing basic conditions,and disseminate them internationally.
The BMBF calls for the participation of industrial enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, in collaborative projects. Through this program the ministry aims tostrengthen Germany‘s leading international position in the water technology sector.

Services of Germany Trade & Invest
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic development
and investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic ofGermany. With more than 300 employees worldwide, it offers
companies comprehensive and tailored information for tradeand investment projects.
Germany Trade & Invest supports international companies
that are looking to settle in Germany. GTAI experts analyze
market opportunities and help develop market-entry strategies
and find the ideal location in Germany. In addition, GTAI offers
reliable information on legal and tax questions as well as comprehensive financing and subsidy advice – free of charge.
For German SMEs, Germany Trade & Invest provides a wide
range of information about doing business abroad. In morethan 50 locations worldwide, GTAI staff research and analyse
the latest trends, developments, opportunities, and risks in international markets from close up.
From international tenders, industry information, investment climate, and business law to the latest customs­regulations, companies can inform themselves free-of-charge
about more than 130 countries, through a variety of different
channels. A special focus on international opportunities in the­water business and other environmental sectors is provided­underwww.gtai.de/umwelttechnik
http://www.gtai.de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/
environmental-technologies.html
https://twitter.com/gtai_greentech

www.fona.de

Franco-German Fellowship Programme
Germany and France are jointly promoting R&D in the areas ofclimate change, renewable energy, and ecosystems. The countries are inviting researchers from all over the world to cooperate with German and French partners to advance research under the motto ”Make our planet great again”.
The calls for proposals have already been published. Further information:www.fona.de

Promoting adaptation to climate change:
Attractive funding
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) funds measures toadapt to climate change. Funding priorities include the establishment of concepts for adaptation to climate change within
enterprises. The aim is to strengthen the adaptability of different actors locally as well as regionally. Funding is provided in
the form of grants, up to a maximum of EUR 300 000.

en.dwa.de/journals.html

Authors
Flérida Regueira Cortizo, Annika Förster, Michael Schnabel,
Daniela Vaziri
Germany Trade & Invest
Friedrichstraße 60, 10117 Berlin, Germany
E-Mail: Flerida.Regueira@gtai.com

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Clear Concepts. Clean Environment.

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