CERTAIN parts of Germany, due to extreme weather conditions in recent years, will no longer be suitable for human habitation, said Ralph Tiesler, director of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.

“As the person at the head of the office for citizen protection and disaster response, I must say that certain areas, due to climate change and the acute danger of natural disasters, will no longer be suitable for living,” said Ralph Tiesler ahead of the presentation of the annual civil protection report.

He specifically warned about the banks of the Ahr River, which a year ago caused floods in western Germany in which more than 180 people lost their lives. Tiesler said that some areas on Germany’s North Sea coast are also no longer safe for settlement.

Now is “high time” to establish a concept in the fight against the effects of climate change, said Tiesler.

At a joint press conference with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, he called for stronger involvement of citizens in civil protection processes, especially with regard to the coming winter and a possible gas shortage.

“We are preparing for a difficult winter with a gas shortage and a new wave of coronavirus, and I would be pleased if we all considered what we can do ourselves to better prepare for crises,” said Tiesler.

He added that by this he means creating supplies of necessities, as well as thinking about alternative energy sources.

Source: index.hr