Urgent Investment Needed for Coastal Protection

Coastal protection is increasingly critical, requiring billions in investments to enhance defenses like dikes and pumping stations. Northern German states have proposed a precautionary measure anticipating a one-meter sea level rise over the next century.

Recent extreme weather events have underscored the urgency of this initiative, particularly a storm surge in the Baltic Sea that revealed vulnerabilities in current protections. Lower Saxony has already allocated a record €80 million in 2022, but experts warn that federal support is essential.

The potential melting of the Greenland ice sheet could lead to a catastrophic seven-meter rise in sea levels, making robust coastal defenses imperative. The coastal states are calling for increased federal funding to safeguard communities and ecosystems from the escalating climate crisis.