German Environment Minister Calls for Massive Investment in Water Infrastructure Amid Low River Levels
Facing record-low water in rivers such as the Rhine, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider urged the states to fund large-scale upgrades to water infrastructure.
Carsten Schneider highlighted that unusually low river levels, especially on the Rhine and Lake Constance, are straining both the environment and the economy. He noted that reduced water has forced inland vessels to carry lighter loads, limiting coal deliveries to southern power plants, though plant availability remains unchanged. Schneider called for a fundamental change in water policy, moving away from historic drainage practices toward retaining water in soils, forests and wetlands, including rewetting dry peatlands and expanding river floodplains.
He urged the Länder to allocate a substantial portion of special-purpose reserves to upgrade water infrastructure. The Bundesnetzagentur warned of potential impacts on energy supply, while Schneider will meet EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall and stakeholders in Berlin to explore coordinated solutions.
Why it matters
Germany's water scarcity threatens transport, energy security and ecosystem health, requiring urgent policy and infrastructure action.
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