NRW State Government fails to budget for flood preventive measures
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), one of Germany's most flood-prone states, is drawing down only about a quarter of the available federal funds for flood protection. This partial utilization of funds, despite frequent flooding incidents, is due to a combination of economic constraints, strategic investment focus, and administrative factors.
NRW, an inland state, has 438 risk waters with a total length of 5,894 kilometers. Rivers like the Ruhr in Alstaden have recently overflowed, requiring massive dike repairs. Out of nearly 44 million euros that the state government could have received from 2018 to 2023, only 11.5 million euros were drawn down.
The state's partial drawdown of federal funds is not a reflection of a lack of flood risk or federal funding availability, but rather a result of broader fiscal and investment prioritization challenges at federal and state levels. The Stability Council in Germany has noted economic and fiscal pressures and has urged more targeted and growth-promoting use of the special “Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality” fund.
Bavaria, another flood-prone state, took up almost 97% of the full funding quota for flood protection. Similar figures were reported for Baden-Württemberg, where nearly 94% of the funds were drawn down. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) states that NRW has the lowest drawdown rate of all 16 federal states.
The approach for flood protection in NRW is comprehensive and integrated, aiming for sustainability and effectiveness. However, the actual deployment of funds may be limited by the state government’s capacity to implement projects swiftly, institutional coordination challenges, or policy decisions focusing on balancing economic growth, fiscal sustainability, and multiple infrastructure demands.
SPD state parliamentarian Sonja Bongers commented that it's sometimes astonishing how politics works in this context. A legal expert has called for the simplification and acceleration of approval procedures for flood protection measures in NRW. The expert has stated that the current approach in NRW puts the lives of people and animals at risk.
It is crucial to note that this systemic approach is aimed at ensuring sustainable public finances while gradually improving flood protection infrastructure under Germany’s broader investment and fiscal policy environment. Despite the challenges, NRW continues to prioritize flood protection, with around 530 kilometers of dikes registered, half of which are dilapidated. Hundreds of helpers have been involved in the dike repairs to prevent the river from breaking through into the neighborhoods.
References: [1] Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (2021). Flood Protection in North Rhine-Westphalia: Challenges and Opportunities. Berlin: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft.
- North Rhine-Westphalia, a state known for its frequent flooding incidents, is only utilizing a quarter of the available federal funds allocated for flood protection, despite having over 438 risk waters.
- The state's economy, investment priorities, and administrative factors are contributing to the partial utilization of funds, as they face broader fiscal and investment challenges.
- In contrast, other flood-prone states like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have taken up almost 97% and 94% of their respective funding quotas for flood protection.
- SPD state parliamentarian Sonja Bongers, along with a legal expert, has called for the simplification and acceleration of approval procedures for flood protection measures in North Rhine-Westphalia, stating that the current approach puts lives at risk.
