By Michael Sauerbier
Heat, drought and low water plague Brandenburg. But also heavy rain and flood. Now Environment Minister Axel Vogel (66, Greens) wants to adapt the country to climate change. This includes reducing water consumption.
Lake levels are sinking, as is the groundwater, but the people of Brandenburg are filling their garden pools. “Per capita water consumption has risen from 97 to 120 liters,” the minister said angrily, “perhaps more water suppliers should think about limiting consumption.”
Vogel cites the Strausberg-Erkner Water Association (WSE) as an example. There, the price per cubic meter should rise drastically from a certain limit. Brandenburg’s new climate adaptation strategy, which the state government approved on Tuesday, lists more than 200 measures. 61 of them in the next four years.
A tractor pulls a long cloud of dust behind it in the drought year 2018 near Schönhagen (Teltow-Fläming). Photo: rhi kde
From day care centers and schools to industrial companies, nursing homes and local transport: all areas of life should be prepared for the coming extreme weather: with drinking fountains, cold rooms, shady bus shelters, heat-resistant locomotives, air-conditioned buses. And save water.
At low water, weirs are to be closed and parts of the Spreewald are to be dried up. Infiltration areas help against heavy rain and flooding, and dykes are being raised. The costs in the millions – nothing compared to the 45 billion euros in damage caused by the flood disaster in the Ahr valley, the minister warns. 134 people died.
Brandenburg’s Environment Minister Axel Vogel (66, Greens) is taking care of climate change Photo: Olaf Wagner
The Green does not want to impose bans. Vogel: “That’s a matter for the districts, cities, communities, associations.” And they’re already taking action. At the beginning of June, the city of Brandenburg/Havel issued a water withdrawal ban for rivers and lakes. Vogel: “It will continue to get worse.“