German Environment Minister urges states to direct infrastructure funds into water management

Call for a policy shift

German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has called for a fundamental change in national water policy following prolonged periods of low water across the country. In an interview with the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Schneider stated that the availability of water has become a central factor for both economic stability and public security. He argued that historical approaches focused primarily on draining water rapidly and drying out wetlands are no longer viable under changing climate conditions.

The times when we did not have to worry about water in Germany are definitively over. Germany needs a different approach to water.

Schneider outlined ecological and technical adjustments required to retain water within landscapes rather than accelerating its runoff into river basins. With mountain glaciers declining as dependable water suppliers, the minister explained that floodplains, soils, and forests must function as primary natural reservoirs. Proposed measures include the re-wetting of drained peatlands, granting rivers more space to expand naturally, and converting monoculture woodlands into resilient mixed forests alongside technical upgrades.

Today the task is to retain water in the landscape as best as possible. When the mountains with their glaciers fail as water suppliers, rivers, floodplains, forests and soils must become water reservoirs all the more.

Funding debate and state reaction

To finance these landscape transformations, Schneider urged German federal states to allocate a significant portion of their allocated infrastructure money to water management. The federal government previously allocated 100 billion euros to the states through a special infrastructure fund. Schneider maintained that regional administrations must prioritize long-term ecological resilience when deploying these resources.

The proposal received direct responses from regional officials. Oliver Krischer, the Environment and Transport Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, noted that his state is already acting within the federal financial framework. However, Krischer emphasized that the 100 billion euro special fund remains finite and called for sustained federal support as well as dedicated European Union financing mechanisms.

Within the framework of possibilities that the federal government gives us, North Rhine-Westphalia is already acting accordingly. But the special fund is also finite.

Economic and energy impacts

The policy debate follows extensive disruption across German waterways during the summer and early autumn. In September, water gauges at multiple measuring points along the Rhine recorded all-time low water levels. The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce warned that low water levels on the Rhine could cause economic damages reaching several billion euros.

The Federal Network Agency also reported logistical constraints for power plants in southern Germany, where inland barges have been forced to operate with reduced cargo capacities to transport coal. The agency noted that despite these freight limits, power plant availability has not been compromised. In Bavaria, low water levels restricted shipping on the Danube, particularly between Straubing and Vilshofen, while also affecting hydroelectric generation and local bird and fish habitats.

Berlin conference on water resilience

Federal and European policymakers plan to discuss joint administrative solutions to manage water stress. Schneider will host a special conference in Berlin on Monday with European Union Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall. The meeting will bring together state government representatives, industrial leaders, and environmental associations to examine water retention strategies and future funding allocations.