Accompanying research on the further development of the German adaptation strategy to climate change
The German Climate Adaptation Act (KAnG) defines climate adaptation as a joint responsibility of the federal government, the federal states, and local authorities. The goal is to prevent or minimize the negative impacts of climate change on society, the economy, infrastructure, nature, and ecosystems. To make society and ecological systems more resilient, climate adaptation measures must be developed and implemented at various levels. With the precautionary climate adaptation strategy, measurable targets and sub-targets were established for the first time in 2024 for the clusters of infrastructure (transport and buildings); land and land use; human health and care provision; urban development, spatial planning, and civil protection; water; businesses; as well as for cross-cluster issues.
The transdisciplinary accompanying research project provides scientific support to the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment Agency in the further development of the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS) as part of the governance of national climate adaptation policy (DAS governance).
For selected areas of action within the DAS, the project team is working with relevant stakeholders to develop proposals for cross-level targets, measures and indicators that go beyond the DAS 2024. The focus is on governmental and non-governmental actors – i.e. representatives from the federal government, federal states and municipalities, as well as from environmental, social/health, and business associations and other stakeholders. A participatory, inclusive process based on the “Whole of Society” approach—which holds that all sectors of society must work together to address complex crises – is intended to promote cross-sectoral and cross-level action; at the same time, reflection on the participatory formats provides lessons-learnt for future DAS governance.
The project will further develop and repeat the nationwide municipal survey on climate change adaptation, which was first conducted on a representative basis in 2023. It captures the status quo and needs of municipalities. The project team is also examining the added value and conditions for potentially making the municipal survey a permanent feature. As a monitoring tool for the DAS, it can strengthen feedback between the federal government and municipalities.
To support the relevant ministries in tracking and evaluating progress toward the DAS 2024, a methodology and a guide are being developed. These will make it possible to assess progress in adapting to climate change – based on the established targets and indicators, or on the status of implementation of the formulated adaptation measures. From this work findings and insights regarding methods and approaches for measuring progress and effectiveness will be compiled and shared with interested parties.
The project results are intended to provide impetus for the further development of the DAS beyond 2028 and to strengthen policy coherence and integration across individual sectors and levels. In addition to overall project management, the IÖW is primarily responsible for developing cross-level targets, measures, and indicators.
