German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged the country to take immediate action on the climate crisis, citing the devastating flooding in Bavaria as a wake-up call. At least four people have died, and thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes after torrential rain at the weekend caused widespread flooding in the region.
Scholz visited the flood-hit area of Reichertshofen, north of Munich, where he stressed that such floods are no longer a rare occurrence. “This is an indication that something is up here. We must not neglect the task of stopping man-made climate change,” he said. The floods are a warning that Germany cannot ignore, and Scholz emphasized the need for concrete action to address the climate crisis.
Bavarian state premier Markus Söeder echoed Scholz’s concerns, stating that there is no “full insurance” against climate change. “Events are happening here that have never happened before,” he said, referring to the unprecedented flooding in the region. Söeder’s words were corroborated by the images of destruction and devastation that have emerged from the affected areas.
The flooding has also raised concerns about the upcoming Euro 2024 football championships, which are set to take place in Germany in just over a fortnight. While no matches are scheduled to be held in the affected areas, the disruption caused by the flooding could have a significant impact on hundreds of thousands of football fans traveling to venues across the country.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Via Olaf Scholz/Twitter)As the region struggles to come to terms with the disaster, environmentalists are calling for greater recognition of the link between the high rains and floods and climate change. Nancy Faeser, Germany’s interior minister, noted that while there have been improvements in the rescue effort since the devastating flooding of 2018, more needs to be done to address the root cause of the problem: climate change.
Farmers’ representatives are also warning of a devastating impact on this year’s harvest, as the flood waters threaten to ruin crops and infrastructure. The disaster has also sparked renewed calls for the introduction of a solidarity-based flood insurance premium for all households in Germany, regardless of their location.
As Germany grapples with the aftermath of this natural disaster, it is clear that the country cannot afford to ignore the warning signs. The devastating impact of flooding and climate change demands immediate action, and Germany must rise to the challenge to protect its people, its environment, and its future.