The Humanist Association of Germany supports the call to enshrine climate adaptation in the Basic Law as a new joint responsibility of the federal and state governments. In light of increasing heat waves, heavy rainfall events, and other consequences of the climate crisis, the Humanist Association of Germany believes that reliable and long-term funding for adaptation measures is needed, especially in areas where people are particularly vulnerable.
To date, responsibility for climate adaptation has primarily rested with the states and local governments. The federal government can provide funding for individual measures, but it does not have a permanent mechanism for participating in financing on a nationwide and structural basis. An amendment to Article 91a of the Basic Law could provide a reliable foundation for this.
“Climate adaptation is no longer just an abstract environmental policy challenge for the future. It has a very concrete impact on how well people are protected during heat waves, whether daycare centers, long-term care facilities, or hospitals remain safe places even in extreme temperatures, and how resilient our cities and communities are to heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events,” explains Aline Mittag, Federal Commissioner for Climate, Environment, and Sustainability at the Humanist Association of Germany.
From the perspective of the Humanist Association of Germany, there are four reasons in particular that call for a new joint initiative:
- Protecting People: Climate adaptation is a matter of public service. Older adults, children, people with chronic illnesses, people with disabilities, and socially disadvantaged individuals are disproportionately affected by heat and other climate impacts.
- Equal living conditions: Protection against the effects of climate change must not depend on whether a municipality has a well-funded budget.
- Reliable Funding: Municipalities need long-term planning certainty rather than a constant stream of new, time-limited grant programs.
- Unbureaucratic Implementation: A new joint initiative should be structured in such a way that funds reach the locations where specific protective measures are being implemented as easily as possible.
“We must not make climate adaptation a matter of ZIP code,” said Mittag. “A shaded playground at a daycare center, effective heat protection at a hospice, or measures to prepare for heavy rainfall are not luxuries. They are part of modern public services.”
The Humanist Association of Germany also shares the view that new funding structures must not lead to additional bureaucracy. A joint responsibility must therefore be accompanied by clear lines of authority, simple procedures, and as much local discretion as possible.
The association welcomes the fact that municipal umbrella organizations and the German Climate Alliance are also calling for long-term, joint funding for climate adaptation measures. It is now crucial to find a viable solution between the federal government and the states.
“The climate crisis affects people to varying degrees. A society based on solidarity must therefore ensure that protection from its consequences does not depend on income, age, or place of residence,” explains Mittag. “A sustainably funded joint effort on climate adaptation would be an important step toward that goal.”
