Climate Change and Nature: Environmental Policy of the Oberberg District in February 2026

Environmental Policy in Focus: The Committee Meets

On February 23, 2026, the Committee for Environment, Climate, Agriculture, and Consumer Affairs of the Oberberg District met at the Hohenzollernbad in Gummersbach. The session started at 4:00 PM and was themed around current challenges in the areas of climate, environment, and nature conservation.

The committee addressed several central topics: the current status of environmental and climate projects, the manure spill into the Neyebach in September 2024, the biodiversity strategy, and the funding application for the AI and radar-based flood management system KIRa-Berg. The meeting documents were accessible online, enabling transparent traceability of the decision-making process.

Innovation in Climate Protection: KIRa-Berg

One of the standout topics in February 2026 was the funding application for the KIRa-Berg project, an AI- and radar-based flood management system. The project is coordinated by the Oberberg District as the consortium leader and includes partners such as TH Köln, the University of Bonn, the German Weather Service (DWD), and the NRW State Agency for Nature, Environment, and Climate.

The goal of the project is to enable early detection of flood risks and to plan protective measures such as mobile flood barriers or retention areas. The system uses an X-band radar system and an AI hybrid model that supports real-time decision-making. The total funding for the project amounts to 1.83 million euros, with the Oberberg District contributing 66,500 euros.

KIRa-Berg will be piloted initially in the Oberberg District and then expanded to the entire Bergisches Land region. The modular architecture of the system also allows for adaptation to other regions and climate crisis scenarios. This project highlights the district’s innovative approach in the areas of climate protection and disaster preparedness.

Nature Conservation and Support for Associations

Another key focus was the support for nature conservation associations. The district council decided to allocate funding of 5,000 euros to three local organizations:

• NABU Oberberg e.V. received 2,040 euros
• Bergischer Naturschutzverein e.V. received 1,270 euros
• SDW e.V. / Waldjugend e.V. received 1,690 euros

The funding was distributed analogously to 2024, with each association receiving a base amount of 500 euros. The distribution followed the percentages 44 %, 22 %, and 34 %. This support strengthens local initiatives in nature conservation and enhances cooperation between the administration and civil society actors.

Landscape Plans and Climate Adaptation

Another important topic was the renewal of the "Oberberg-Süd" landscape plan. The district council plans to develop a draft plan for the section covering Morsbach, Waldbröl, and Nümbrecht in order to adapt the landscape plans to current legal and technical requirements. In particular, the new Cologne Regional Plan of October 29, 2025, has introduced changed planning requirements that must be integrated into landscape planning.

The costs for this process amount to 25,000 euros. The revision of the landscape plans is a key step in mitigating climate change and other environmental pressures through planning and enabling sustainable development.

Outlook: Climate Resilience as a Long-Term Goal

The decisions and initiatives of February 2026 show that the Oberberg District is actively addressing the challenge of climate change. Through projects like KIRa-Berg, the support for nature conservation associations, and the revision of landscape plans, the district is focusing on innovation, cooperation, and long-term planning. These measures not only contribute to climate resilience but also strengthen regional identity and the protection of nature.

In the coming months, it will be particularly important to evaluate the results of the pilot projects and transfer experiences to other regions. Continued collaboration with nature conservation associations and the inclusion of the public in planning processes will remain key success factors.