The Emscher Restoration: A Contribution to Climate Adaptation

Key Learnings

• Water management is a driver of ecological and social transformation: It is necessary to think and act sustainably and in the long term to achieve the best possible climate change adaptation outcome.
• Public water management in a cooperative: Broad participation of municipalities, citizens, politicians and NGOs, without profit orientation enhances project success and adaptation achievements.
• Nature-based Solutions (renaturation of water bodies and floodplains, near-natural retention areas): Significantly contribute to carbon sequestration and the adaptation to climate change consequences. Additional blue-green infrastructure creates added value for living, living and working.

Summary

The Emscher Restoration contributes to climate change adaptation after severe human impact over the past decades, supports biodiversity conservation, and benefits human well-being. The project's success is also due to broad public engagement and collaboration with multiple stakeholders. Financing from multiple funding sources covered the cost of the restoration, which totalled 5.5 billion euros.

Contact

https://www.eglv.de/en/

https://www.klima-werk.de/en/index.html