Climate threats are unfortunately something that should concern us all. But I often get the feeling that a lot of people around me don’t care much about it. And I don’t just mean my peers and friends. But unfortunately also people who have some influence, who could do something about it, but unfortunately don’t. But in many countries it’s different. Germany is a country where people are very concerned about the climate. And some cities are very well equipped against the threats.

Climate change is a growing challenge for European cities. Extreme heat, long periods of drought, severe storms or torrential rain are no longer exceptional events. In Germany, therefore, experts recently surveyed which municipalities are best prepared for such events. The results surprised them, with Remscheid in North Rhine-Westphalia being the most prepared.

Why Remscheid?

The study evaluated a total of 71 German cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Remscheid was found to be one of the cities with the lowest climate risks, but also very well prepared and able to adapt in the event of change. The research assessed not only climate risks per se, but also the economy, infrastructure and quality of life.

One of the main reasons why Remscheid is doing so well is its geographical location. The city is located inland and at the same time is not in close proximity to major rivers or coastlines. Many people may therefore complain about living there and would rather move somewhere near the water, which I personally understand. On the other hand, because of this, the community has a lower likelihood of some of the most devastating climate disasters.

If I asked my friends where they would like to live, most of them would choose cities by the water in Europe. It is just that coastal cities face the risk of storm surges, for example, and cities on rivers can be at risk of widespread flooding. I’m a practical person and would rather choose a safe place than a beautiful one. But many people feel differently.

Remscheid is a safe place for many other reasons. These include:

  • milder climate and less risk of extreme temperatures
  • generally lower risk of extreme weather events
  • strong infrastructure and economic stability
Other German cities are also prepared for climate problems. ━━ Other German cities are also prepared for climate problems. ( Source: Maheshkumar Painam /  Unsplash+ )

North Rhine-Westphalia as a relatively safe region

According to the study, not only Remscheid, but also several other towns in the region ranked relatively high in the ranking of safe towns. These include Bielefeld, Solingen, Aachen and Münster. “Cities that invest in flood protection, urban greenery and heat-resistant infrastructure strengthen their resilience to climate risks and protect their population and infrastructure,” says Gesa Crockford, one of the researchers.

This trend shows that the North Rhine-Westphalia region generally has more favourable conditions in terms of climate risks than some other parts of Germany. Many people are probably more at ease after knowing the results of the study. It is also likely that many people have realised that sometimes safety is preferable to the comfort and beauty of seaside towns. Yet there are still many who move to the beauty of the countryside and see safety as an afterthought.