The President of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), Sabine Lackner, has observed a growing correlation between the agency’s deployments and the effects of climate change, anticipating a continued rise in related operations.
In remarks to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Lackner stated that the intensity of THW interventions – both in terms of frequency and complexity – has demonstrably increased. “We are noticing an increase in extreme weather events linked to climate change, particularly more instances of heavy rainfall, which subsequently lead to larger-scale deployments” she explained. “I expect this trend to continue and our deployment figures already reflect this.
The THW is adapting its operational approach to address these evolving circumstances, including modifications regarding larger wildfires. While emphasizing that firefighting remains the responsibility of local fire departments, Lackner noted an increasing demand for the THW’s specialized support. “We are increasingly requested to provide water transport over long distances, particularly in scenarios involving potentially hazardous, munitions-contaminated terrain where firefighters cannot approach closely. We support fire departments by establishing long-distance water supply systems” she said. The agency is already implementing the necessary tactical adjustments to accommodate these changing needs.
Early in 2024, the THW responded to flooding in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. In May, further flood events demanded the agency’s assistance in the Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and parts of southern Germany.