Policy analysis – improving adaptation to climate change in Germany

On behalf of the Federal Environment Agency, adelphi and CEval are evaluating adaptation policy in Germany for the second time. Where do the federal government, states, municipalities and non-state actors stand in terms of adaptation to climate change?

In 2008 the federal government adopted the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, or DAS. The aim: to prepare or adapt the natural, social and economic systems in Germany to the effects of climate change. In addition to the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, the federal government has also adopted three national action plans (APA I to III).

Various federal ministries and states, municipalities, science and other social actors contribute to adaptation. This process is complex and, at the same time, key to ensuring a coordinated response to a changing climate. For this reason, independent third parties, adelphi and the Center for Evaluation (CEval), were commissioned to re-evaluate the process.

Committed actors, a lack of resources and the need for greater networking: First evaluation report on the German adaptation strategy

The first evaluation of the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS) was published by adelphi and CEval in 2019. The partners developed an evaluation methodology to analyse strategy, the implementation status at the federal level, and the adaptive capacity of the natural, social and economic systems. Key findings include: 

• Exchange between federal ministries, but also with states and other actors, must intensify to better coordinate strategic activities
• Climate change adaptation could be established as a policy field, but the need for action must be internalised even more 
• Actions must be defined in a more targeted manner and better coordinated

The report also showed that there are many committed actors who already think and work across departments. However, there is a lack of resources in terms of personnel, finances and time.

More on the status of the German adaptation strategy in 2019 is available in the corresponding report.

180 actions to advance the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change

The results of the first evaluation report from 2019 were published in good time to influence the development of the third action plan. This plan contains 180 specific actions from all federal ministries and serves as the basis for the further implementation of the German adaptation strategy. As part of this project, adelphi and CEval are evaluating the success of the implementation. The second evaluation report has been published in 2023.