The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and KfW are continuing their “Nature-based Climate Action in Municipalities” action plan, which was launched last year as part of the Nature-based Climate Action Programme (NCP) and which has seen plenty of demand. A new addition is the financing of desealing measures to restore natural soil functions.

As of today, 5 March 2025, municipalities are able to apply for grants of up to 90% of the financing costs for green spaces such as tree plantations or the creation of small, nature-friendly car parks, as well as nature experience spaces and urban forests, as part of the Nature-based Climate Action Programme (NCP). The transition to nature-based green area management and the restoration of small urban water bodies are also promoted.

Another new addition is the promotion of desealing measures and the creation of municipal desealing concepts, which also starts today. The promotion of desealing concepts for built-up areas aims to tap into the existing potential for restoring natural soil functions. In this way, municipalities are supported in implementing targeted measures to increase habitat diversity and biodiversity as well as water retention in our cities and municipalities. At the same time, the measures are also set to result in a permanent reduction of heat stress and dry air in residential areas.

Information on the expanded KfW programme can be found at: www.kfw.de/444 (in German)

Further information:

Information about the Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity can be found here.

Details on the Centre of Competence for Nature-based Climate Action (KNK; the central point of contact for the topic of nature-based climate action at German federal level) with further information about advice and promotion can be found at: https://www.kompetenzzentrum-nk.de/ .