HUE-3: Federal grants - Research projects Climate change impacts Adaptation | Umweltbundesamt

HUE-3: Federal grants for promoting research projects on climate change impacts and adaptation

Several Federal departments promote research on the theme of climate change impacts and adaptation by means of grants for time-limited projects. There has been a distinct increase in the volume of such grants since 2006. However, the figures reflect only part of the research grants provided at Federal level. By the same token, any contract research commissioned by Federal ministries is not included.

More money for research into climate impacts and adaptation

When making decisions that have long-term effects, it is essential to consider and take adequate account of the future climate and any potential climate change impacts. Any planning and projects of the public sector have to be resilient to the impacts of future climate changes. This applies to infrastructure projects such as the expansion of extant or the construction of new roads and railway lines, or the enhancement of inland waterways, flood protection measures or the construction of new power lines in response to the energy turnaround, and also with regard to public buildings or, last not least, the allocation of development areas at the municipal level. Likewise, companies are keen for their long-term investments into buildings or production facilities to be climate-resilient, and they want to make location decisions in a way that they are sustainable in the long run. Notably, private individuals also want to be able to make the right decisions, for instance in choosing their living location or regarding the purchase or construction of real estate.

An essential basis for decision-making is, on one hand, a well-informed vision of the future which allows them to make a fairly reliable appraisal of future climatic changes and of existing vulnerabilities as well as the potential impacts of climate change. On the other, strategic, technical and also practical solutions also need to be robust and flexible enough to cope with the wide range of potential climatic changes. It is therefore an important aspiration at Federal level to spare no effort in providing the necessary knowledge base required for adaptation processes or measures and to pursue a methodical funding approach to relevant research activities.

Many Federal funding activities for research into climate change and adaptation are bundled under the umbrella of the BMBF strategy entitled ‘Research for Sustainability’ (FONA) within the action field ‘Improving adaptability and risk preparedness’ financed by the BMBF. Currently the focus is on these themes: ‘Researching climate-change related extreme events in Germany’, ‘Understanding and preventing climate change impacts on health’ and ‘Making towns and regions more resilient’. Besides, there are other programmes sponsored by Federal departments which study adaptation issues and are involved in piloting adaptation measures. A major focal point in the BMUV’s departmental research plan is the ‘Adaptation to climate change impacts’; furthermore, a strategic key theme is dedicated to ‘Climate adaptation and resilience in urban areas’. In the focal point ‘Resilient transport and data systems & traffic safety’ administered by the BMDV, the strategic framework of their departmental research (RFR) addresses the themes of ‘Adaptation of transport systems to the impacts of climate change’ and ‘Reliability and resilience of transport infrastructure’. Other themes deal with the protection of critical infrastructures and the enhancement of alert messaging systems. An important element of the BMDV’s departmental research is the BMDV’s Experts Network launched in 2016, which has seven members from departmental research institutes and competent authorities working in fields such as adaptation to climate change, environmental protection and reliable transport infrastructure.

Apart from in-house research by competent authorities and departmental research institutions, there are many examples – as in the case of the BMUV’s departmental research plan – of time-limited research and development projects that are allocated by means of a competitive award system (commissioned research). In addition, Federal government – within the framework of funding and specialised programmes – provides funding by way of earmarked grants for the promotion of projects. Likewise, major joint projects in the field of climate change impacts and risks as well as adaptation are also promoted in this way. As far as BMBF is concerned, relevant measures in this context include ‘RegIKlim – Regional information on climate-related action’, ‘The economics of climate change’, ‘Climate resilience from actions in town and region’, ‘Urban climate in flux’, and since end-2021, the emergency measure entitled ‘Climate adaptation, flooding and resilience’ (KAHR) by way of scientific support for restoration processes after the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. In respect of joint projects, the participation of partners from a variety of scientific disciplines and various regions was rated very highly, in the expectation that this might lead to the development of holistic solutions while supporting efforts made in transferring scientific findings into practical applications. Within the framework of the BMBF measure entitled ‘Climate, environment and health’ emerging researchers employ innovative approaches and methods in order to explore and curb the development of health risks ensuing from climate change.

To date there has been no cross-departmental compilation of all promotional activities relating to the adaptation to climate change; neither has there been an overview published of the funding disbursed for those purposes. Only the grants contributed by BMBF, BMUV and BMEL as well as the BMWK are listed centrally in the promotions catalogue published by BMBF; consequently, these are the only ones permitting an assessment in respect of the themes of climate change impacts and adaptation. From 2006 onwards, projects based on these focal points have been receiving grants at a major financial scale. In those days the BMBF created the promotional focal point ‘klimazwei – Research for Climate Protection and Protection from Climate Impacts’ endowed with a funding volume of some 35 million Euros to cover the period 2006–2009. Since then, the funds dispersed for grant-based funding of research and development on climate-change impacts and adaptation have been increasing considerably indicating a significant trend. The bulk of these funds went to measures provided by the BMBF, while smaller amounts relevant to these measures were awarded by the BMUV, BMWK and the other departments mentioned above.

However, the funding catalogue does not cover any commissioned research. The figures therefore reflect only part of the funding provided for research and development relating to the adaptation to climate change. Any relevant activities such as those conducted by the BMG whose planned activities are outlined within the framework plan for departmental research, or any relevant parts of the BMUV’s departmental research plan are currently not reflected in the indicator. Likewise, any measures which indirectly impact on adaptation are not covered by the time series. Consequently, the data do not permit any evaluative statements in respect of quantity or quality of Federal grants.