How does climate change affect Germany? How can we adapt to reduce the risks? And where do we need to take urgent action? Experts from 25 federal agencies and institutions are working together to tackle these questions. The 2021 climate impact and risk analysis for Germany identifies five affected areas. Natural systems and resources such as soil, water, species and ecosystems, economic systems that use nature such as fisheries, agriculture and forestry, infrastructures and buildings such as facilities and transportation routes. Economic systems remote from nature such as manufacturing, trade, services, as well as people and social systems which include health and performance. Interactions between the systems are also analysed. At the beginning of the impact chains, usually climate change affects on natural systems and resources occur, whereas human health is often affected at the end. For example, the effect of rising temperatures and drought. Dry soils are more susceptible to wind erosion. Soil fertility also decreases. This leads to lower agricultural yields. In forestry, drying and drought lead to more pests and more frequent forest fires. As a result, this means less wood is available as building material. People also suffer from the heat. Another example is heavy rainfall. Climate change is causing more frequent heavy rainfall and thus more soil erosion, flash floods and flooding. The agricultural sector is suffering from crop failures. Infrastructures and buildings are being destroyed. This is also affecting production and trade. People are losing their properties or even their lives. And all these changes lies one thing. Global temperatures are rising and the temperature rise is also affecting all systems. Ecosystems are changing. Species which thrive in cold temperatures migrate or become extinct. For example, cod are disappearing in the North Sea and herring in the Baltic Sea. This has consequences for fisheries and tourism. In warmer waters, blue, green algae and harmful bacteria also multiply more easily. The climate, impact and risk analysis also identifies and assesses adaptation measures and their urgency. In all systems, climate risks are best be reduced through immediate action. Adaptation measures often take a very long time to become effective, mostly over several decades. The greatest and most urgent need for action is for natural systems. Climate-induced changes here are often difficult or impossible to reverse. At the same time, adaptations here are only possible to a limited extent with difficulty or not at all. In addition to consistent climate protection, human pressures must therefore be reduced here urgently. With careful land use, for example, the soil will not be swept away during heavy rainfall. It can absorb the water and release it back to plants during dry spells. We must act now to protect the livelihoods of future generations.