The state ministers responsible for urban and municipal development from Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein have taken a stand on the debate surrounding heat protection measures. They oppose a discussion about amending the Basic Law and instead advocate for the introduction of a new federal special development programme titled 'Cooles Land' (Cool Country).
This programme, with a volume of EUR 500 million, is to be financed by the federal government, without the states having to bear a co-financing share due to their strained budget situations. The aim is to enable cities and municipalities to implement and finance short-term measures within twelve months. These include, among other things, shading solutions, the planting of trees, the integration of water features to promote a 'blue-green urban infrastructure', and the creation of cool resting areas. These measures are to be realised by the summer period of 2027.
Climate Change Adaptation as a Central Protection Mandate
The ministers emphasise the long-standing success story of urban development funding by the states and the federal government, which has been driving urban and municipal development together with the local authorities for over 50 years. They point out that significant progress has already been made nationwide in the area of climate change adaptation, for example after heavy rainfall or flood events in Passau, along the Elbe, or after the heavy rainfall disaster in 2021 in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as after storm surges in Schleswig-Holstein. The ministers see urban and municipal development as a central actor for adapting to the consequences of climate change. They declared that in the context of heat protection, cold protection is also considered, and in the case of drought impacts, heavy rainfall protection is also addressed. Furthermore, oxygen supply through fresh air corridors is taken into account when reducing CO2 in cities. They see the city as a living system, the complexity of which must be understood for effective investments.
In view of current debates, the state ministers have submitted the proposal to register the topic 'Cool Country – firmly embedding climate change adaptation as a protection mandate in urban and municipal development' as a separate agenda item for the Building Ministers' Conference taking place in Berlin in September 2026. The goal is to jointly develop pragmatic short, medium, and long-term solutions, ideas, and concepts. The ministers highlighted the tradition of cross-party action within the Building Ministers' Conference and criticised the lack of a position from the responsible federal ministry. They emphasised the initiative of the states to discuss the topic there and adopt proposed measures, and invited constructive cooperation.
Bavarian Building Minister Christian Bernreiter expressed his disapproval of an amendment to the Basic Law, as it would create new and unnecessary bureaucracy. He referred to already established and successful programmes in Bavaria. The state's Climate Adaptation Strategy 2025 has initiated concrete measures to deal with heat, drought, heavy rainfall, and flooding. The Bavarian cabinet intensified its focus on low land sealing, the nature-friendly management of rainwater, and holistic, heat-resilient solutions for summer thermal protection in state construction projects at the end of July 2025. A guide for municipalities, resulting from the model project 'Climate-Friendly Urban Development', serves as practical help in preparing climate adaptation concepts. A two-year practical test with nine model municipalities began in June to gain insights for all Bavarian municipalities. Minister Bernreiter called for more financial resources from the federal government for further joint work with the municipalities, instead of merely political declarations.
