Climate protection in Idar-Oberstein

It is the subsequent change in environmental influences that is causing us humans problems (in terms of health, finances and the economy). As a result, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. In addition to extreme drought, prolonged periods of weather can also lead to extreme humidity.

Examples:

• The hot summer of 2018 was characterized by prolonged high temperatures and local heavy rainfall events, which also caused considerable damage in the Birkenfeld district.

• However, prolonged weather events can also lead to flooding. In the districts of Birkenfeld and Bad Kreuznach, for example, it rained so heavily in April and May 2024, in some cases as continuous rain, that there was considerable flooding in the village of Kirn Sulzbach (Bad Kreuznach) on May 19, 2024. The soil was oversaturated with moisture and the rainwater could no longer seep into the ground, so the rain flowed into the valley as surface water and in some cases as a flood of mud, causing considerable flood damage in Kirn-Sulzbach. The local fire departments were in constant operation during this time, as were many fire departments from the entire Hunsrück region and many other volunteers in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.

• The way we live our everyday lives has a major impact on what we call the climate, with many small and large influences contributing to global warming.
• Everyday life consumes natural resources, for example, for our transportation to work or leisure activities or for our heating needs in winter and our ventilation needs in summer.

• Activities and measures that counteract the acceleration of global warming.
• These aim to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2.

• Climate protection can be actively taken into account in many areas of life (private, public).