Climate adaptation concept
Development of a Concept for Sustainable Climate Adaptation and Natural Climate Protection for the Pilgrimage Town of Kevelaer
Climate change also poses new challenges for the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer. More frequent and intense heat waves, heavy rainfall events, droughts, and other climate-related changes can have an impact on people, nature, infrastructure, and city life.
With its climate adaptation plan, the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer has established a strategic framework to prepare specifically for the consequences of climate change and to implement appropriate measures.
The Climate Adaptation Plan
The plan identifies the areas where Kevelaer is already particularly affected by climate change and where action is needed. Building on this, specific measures have been developed and prioritized to help the community adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The focus will be on the following topics, among others:
- Protection from Heat and Health Risks
- Managing Heavy Rainfall and Flood Risks
- Precautions for Drought and Water Shortages
- Preservation and Expansion of Green Spaces and Open Areas
- Protecting and Enhancing Nature and Biodiversity
- Climate-Adaptive Urban and Open Space Planning
- Raising Awareness and Providing Information to the Public
Adoption of the Climate Adaptation Plan
On July 16, 2026, the City Council of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer unanimously adopted the Climate Adaptation Plan as a strategic framework for the planning, prioritizing, and implementing measures to adapt to the consequences of climate change, as well as the implementation of the measures contained therein and the application of a continuous monitoring system.
Implementation and Updates
With this resolution, the concrete implementation phase begins. The measures developed in the climate adaptation plan are to be implemented step by step and reviewed regularly. A continuous monitoring system helps document progress, evaluate measures, and further develop the plan as needed.Insgesamt wurden 26 Maßnahmen identifiziert. Davon wurden zwölf Maßnahmen als besonders relevant beziehungsweise prioritär für die weitere Bearbeitung eingestuft und in Form von Maßnahmensteckbriefen vertieft ausgearbeitet.
FAQ
What does the Climate Adaptation Division focus on?
In contrast to climate protection, which aims to reduce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or methane, climate adaptation is about dealing with the consequences of climate change and extreme weather events. The aim of climate adaptation is to reduce risks, avoid damage and adapt to the expected changes caused by climate change.
Areas of action include, for example, dealing with storms and heavy rainfall in order to prevent or contain flooding and other risks. This also includes the topic of heat prevention. Furthermore, cities and municipalities can respond to climate change by adapting their urban planning or building design.
Climate protection and climate adaptation are equally important for a future-oriented and liveable municipality. In the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer, both fields of action are therefore taken into account and the synergies between them are utilized.
What is a climate adaptation plan?
By developing the Climate Adaptation Plan, the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer aims to lay the groundwork for numerous sustainable climate adaptation measures. The climate adaptation plan serves as a decision-making and planning tool for municipal climate adaptation and consists of various components. The first step is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of climate-related risks and vulnerabilities in the urban area. Based on these results, appropriate adaptation measures are then identified and prioritized. The participatory process is the most important component. In workshops, strategies for adapting to the impacts of climate change are developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The climate adaptation manager coordinates and implements the adaptation measures in collaboration with the participating stakeholders. Kevelaer’s climate adaptation manager, Leon Schlüter, has been coordinating the project on behalf of the municipality since November 2024. Ms. Chantal Fouquet will take over the position in November 2025.
What types of citizen participation initiatives took place?
The kick-off event for the concept development took place on 13.02.2025. After a presentation, the citizens present actively contributed to the planning by discussing risks and proposed measures.
On 11.03.2025, key local stakeholders were able to contribute their expertise and experience in a workshop on existing adaptation capacities and adaptation needs. How is climate change and the consequences associated with climate change already affecting our city today?
Who is funding the project?
Funding through the Natural Climate Protection Action Program (ANK)
With the Natural Climate Protection Action Program(ANK), the German government wants to make a decisive contribution to significantly improving systematic adaptation to climate change in municipalities and municipal institutions, thereby strengthening their resilience. The financial incentives are intended to enable strategic management of climate adaptation, which will benefit consumers as well as municipalities and educational institutions. The program aims to ensure a holistic view of all climate impacts and not just focus on individual aspects. The German government wants to enable stakeholders to tackle the necessary adaptation processes consistently and with foresight in order to safeguard the quality of life of current and future generations. The funded measures should not only serve climate adaptation, but also systematically develop synergies for greater ecological sustainability.
The sustainable climate adaptation plan, titled “ANK-DAS-A.1: Development of a Concept for Sustainable Climate Adaptation and Natural Climate Protection for the Pilgrimage Town of Kevelaer” from November 1, 2024, through December 31, 2026. The grant reference number is 67DAAN0131. The consulting firm Drees und Sommer is responsible for implementing and managing the funded project. The project sponsor is Zukunft–Umwelt–Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH (ZUG).
