Klimaanpassungsgesetz (KAnG): Obligations for Municipalities Explained Simply

In brief. The federal Klimaanpassungsgesetz (KAnG, climate adaptation act) has applied since 1 July 2024. It initially obliges the federal government and the states, not municipalities directly. Concrete municipal obligations, such as preparing climate adaptation strategies, only arise via the respective state law, which most states must present by early 2027. Important already now: the consideration requirement under Section 8, which has applied since 1 January 2025.

Why this matters for your municipality. Many administrations are unsure whether they "must" or "may". This uncertainty blocks decisions. A clear answer creates planning certainty, and shows that an early start is not premature compliance but preparation for obligations that are foreseeably coming. Those who only react once the state law sets a deadline will come under time pressure and may miss out on funding.

What does the federal act specifically require?

The KAnG obliges the federal government to present a climate adaptation strategy with measurable targets. This requirement has been met: the federal cabinet adopted the precautionary German Adaptation Strategy (DAS 2024, Deutsche Anpassungsstrategie) in December 2024, with 33 targets and associated indicators. The states must develop their own adaptation strategies by 31 January 2027 and update them at least every five years. Central for practice is the consideration requirement (Section 8): since 1 January 2025, public task bodies, including municipalities, must take the goal of climate adaptation into account and weigh it in their planning and decisions. This is not a hard implementation obligation, but a requirement to consider and justify. Last reviewed: August 2026.

Do municipalities now have to prepare a climate adaptation strategy?

Under Section 12 KAnG, municipal climate adaptation strategies are to be prepared "in accordance with state law". The federal act itself therefore sets no direct deadline for municipalities. Whether and by when your municipality needs a strategy is decided by your state through its implementing legislation. These state laws are mostly expected in the course of the state strategies by 2027. An exception is North Rhine-Westphalia: it has had its own climate adaptation act since July 2021, though this only recommends strategies to municipalities and sets no deadline. Berlin has also had a state law since the end of 2025.

What should you already be doing now?

Do not wait for the deadline. Three steps are worthwhile now:

• Visibly fulfil the consideration requirement by documenting that climate impacts were weighed in land use planning and investment decisions
• Gain clarity on your hotspots with a risk assessment
• Use the funding available for strategy development and staff now, while demand has not yet overloaded the programmes

This way you are prepared once your state specifies the obligation.

The honest limit. The exact scope of obligations for your municipality will only be certain once your state has passed its implementing legislation. Until then, you work with the federal framework and what is already foreseeable for your state. There is currently no blanket answer of "you must by date X" in any state: NRW only recommends strategies, Berlin obliges districts to prepare heat action plans. Be cautious of offers claiming a nationwide strategy deadline.

When KomAdapt pays off. If you want to document the consideration requirement robustly and be prepared for the coming state obligations, the risk and exposure analysis module helps: it provides the traceable basis on which considerations and a later strategy can be built. The funding roadmap and reporting module also records what evidence is due, and when.

_Since when has the climate adaptation act applied?_ The federal KAnG entered into force on 1 July 2024. The consideration requirement (Section 8) has applied since 1 January 2025. The federal government adopted the Deutsche Anpassungsstrategie 2024 with 33 targets and indicators in December 2024; the states must present their strategies by 31 January 2027. Last reviewed: August 2026. _Does the KAnG apply directly to my municipality?_ Not immediately with regard to a strategy obligation. The federal act addresses the federal government and the states. For municipalities it takes effect indirectly via the consideration requirement and via the state implementing laws. NRW and Berlin already have their own state laws. _What does the consideration requirement under Section 8 mean?_ It obliges public task bodies to include and weigh the goal of climate adaptation in their planning and decisions. In practice this means: for development plans or larger investments, you should document how heat and heavy rain risks were taken into account. _Are there sanctions if we do nothing?_ The federal act does not provide for direct fines for municipalities. More relevant is the obligation to weigh and justify: those who ignore climate impacts in planning risk contestable decisions and, in case of damage, liability issues. Furthermore, state obligations with deadlines will follow.

Eingehende Links setzen von: climate-adaptation-municipalities, climate-adaptation-strategy-development, climate-adaptation-small-municipalities.