The German Adaptation Strategy (Deutsche AnpassungsStrategie, DAS) creates a framework for adaptation to the consequences of climate change in Germany. This strategy primarily represents the contribution of the Federal Government and thus provides guidance for other stakeholders. It lays the foundations for a medium-term process in which, in cooperation with the Federal Länder (federal states) and societal groups, risks will be progressively identified, action needs ascertained, appropriate objectives defined and developed and potential adaptation measures implemented. The German Adaptation Strategy thus pursues an integrated approach to assessing risks and action needs, supporting sustainable development. And it reflects Germany’s international responsibility. The Strategy in its five chapters sets out the basic principles of the strategy, the present state of knowledge with regard to the expected climate changes (worldwide and in Germany), their potential consequences and ways of dealing with uncertainty factors. In addition to giving a concrete description of possible consequences of climate change and outlining action options for 15 fields of action and selected regions, it provides an overview of the international context and Germany’s contribution to adaptation in other parts of the world. Last it describes the forthcoming steps in the continuing development of the German Adaptation Strategy. The aim of the Adaptation Strategy is to reduce vulnerability to the consequences of climate change, to maintain or improve the adaptability of natural, social and economic systems, and to take advantage of any opportunities. To facilitate a precautionary approach to sustainable planning and action in the private, scientific, business and public sectors, there is a need to: 1) Improve the knowledge base with a view to better define and communicate opportunities and risks, and to identify options for action; 2) Create transparency and participation by means of a broadly based process of communication and dialogue, and support various stakeholders, for example by providing decision support and information on which to base decisions; 3) Supporting public awareness raising and information through widespread public relations work; 4) Developing strategies for dealing with uncertainty factors. There are gaps in the knowledge and considerable uncertainties about the details of how the climate will change in the future. However, the latest analyses of regional climate models for Germany (see Chapter 2) show that it is possible to make first reliable statements about the direction and/or range of possible changes in cases where the different models come to similar results. This can be used as a basis for estimating the consequences for sectors and regions and identifying needs for action. When assessing the consequences of climate change the Federal Government intends in future to act on the basis of a multi-model approach and refrains from specifying any individual scenario or model as reference for adaptation activities. As the central next step in developing the Strategy, an Adaptation Action Plan is to be drawn up in collaboration with the Länder and other relevant stakeholders. This Action Plan will be submitted to both Houses of Parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat) by March 2011. To this end, an Inter-ministerial Working Group on Adaptation will be established. The Action Plan will include principles and criteria for prioritising action needs, derived specifications for federal measures, an overview of concrete measures by other stakeholders, information on financing of adaptation, and proposals for progress review. The text consists of 5 Parts as follows: Framework and objectives of Germany’s Adaptation Strategy (1); The climate is changing ! (2); What are the consequences? – What can be done? (3); Worldwide adaptation – the German contribution (4); The German Adaptation Strategy: Approach and next steps .(5). Three Annexes are enclosed.
Germany · 2008-12-17