Natural climate protection or also "just saving the world for a moment"?

Without talking too much about crises - besides the Corona pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the consequences here in Germany, there are two existential crises that acutely threaten our livelihood: the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis. By now, most people are aware of the consequences of the climate crisis and they can also be felt in Germany. However, the rapid extinction of species and the biodiversity crisis are still flying under the radar of many people. Yet around one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction - out of an estimated eight million species worldwide. (Source: World Conference on Nature).

To address this dual crisis, nature conservation and climate protection must be brought together. "One crisis causes the other and both must be solved together," emphasizes Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. This is where Natural Climate Protection comes in.

Clear goals, diverse measures

The central goal is to protect, conserve and restore natural ecosystems. Natural climate protection begins at the interface between biodiversity conservation and climate protection. It encompasses natural areas as well as populated areas or agricultural land.

The BMUV takes a holistic approach: measures that have a direct impact on the greenhouse gas balance are just as important as measures that strengthen the resilience of ecosystems to the effects of the climate crisis. Only in this way can Natural Climate Protection have a long-term effect, the BMUV is certain. Many measures of Natural Climate Protection also contribute to adaptation to the consequences of the climate crisis. For example, a more natural water balance that keeps water in the landscape makes it more resistant to increasing extreme weather events.

"Natural climate protection" needs strong local support

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke: "We need broad participation and strong local commitment from all stakeholders so that we can create the conditions for intact ecosystems and Natural Climate Protection together. The climate crisis and species extinction continue to worsen. We need to take urgent action, as the increasingly frequent heat waves, droughts and heavy rainfall events and their effects show us. The consequences are unmistakable, especially this year: Alpine glaciers are melting, forests are burning. We are therefore making four billion euros available from the newly created Climate and Transformation Fund by 2026, because we need to protect nature so that it can protect us."

Steffi Lemke invites interested parties to visit the stand of the Federal Environment Ministry at the Green Week in Hall 27 and find out more about Natural Climate Protection.