Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther visits Hereon

As part of his summer trip, the head of government from Kiel informed himself about coastal and climate research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon

Schleswig-Holstein is changing faster and faster as a result of climate change. Sea levels are rising in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Unexpectedly high storm surges such as in 2023 can occur more often and cause major damage. What does this mean for the future of the federal state? Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) discussed this with the scientists Prof. Dr. Corinna Schrum and Prof. Dr. Daniela Jacob at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. Furthermore Hereon's Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Matthias Rehahn, the members of the state parliament Andrea Tschacher (CDU) and Oliver Brandt (Grüne) and Melanie Grimm-Meyer, city councillor of Geesthacht, took part.

Many representatives from politics and science attended the visit by Schleswig-Holstein's CDU Prime Minister Daniel Günther: from left: Claudia Kleinwächter, CDU Member of State Parliament Andrea Tschacher, Daniela Jacob, Daniel Günther, Matthias Rehahn, Corinna Schrum, Tamara Kleber-Janke, Iris Ulrich, Green Party Member of State Parliament Oliver Brandt, Geesthacht City Councillor Melanie Grimm-Meyer and Torsten Fischer. Photo: Hereon/Steffen Niemann

"The topic of my summer trip this year is coastal protection," said Daniel Günther during his visit. "The reason for this is the major storm surge in the Baltic Sea last October." The Prime Minister wanted to know from the scientists: "How can we better prepare for such events in the future? And what priorities do we need to set in policy?"

During the opening Matthias Rehahn and Dr. Torsten Fischer, Head of the Communications and Media Department, briefly explained the special expertise of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. At Hereon, materials, coastal and climate research work on joint topics in an interdisciplinary and solution-oriented manner. With the help of digital twins, they decode the processes in complex systems and thus provide the basis for future-oriented decisions. Complex systems can include the human body, processes on the world's coasts and climate change. The expert talk then began.

Coastal protection as a permanent task in Schleswig-Holstein

Prof Dr Corinna Schrum and Prof Dr Daniela Jacob talk about coastal and climate protection measures in Schleswig-Holstein. Photo: Hereon/Steffen Niemann

Prof Dr Corinna Schrum, Director of the Hereon Institute for Coastal Systems Analysis and Modelling, emphasized that coastal protection is a permanent task and that there is no precise certainty. The federal state is changing faster and faster as a result of climate change. Storm surge and flood risks are increasing. The sea level is also rising, which is being significantly accelerated by climate change. Targeted coastal protection measures are needed to adapt to changes in the coasts and sea levels. In addition, inland drainage systems must be adapted, as rising sea levels and increasing storm surges can lead to problems with inland drainage.

Prime Minister Daniel Günther in conversation with Prof Dr Daniela Jacob from GERICS. Photo: Hereon/Steffen Niemann

The topic of coastal protection is also an ongoing task in research. Looking back into the past, for example, enables improved forecasting and the development of new management and adaptation strategies. The understanding of supporting natural coastal protection measures must also be further developed. Corinna Schrum also presented the web tool "Küstenschutzbedarf.de" and the Hereon "Sturmflutmonitor.de", which researchers from Hereon and the Northern German Coastal and Climate Office at Hereon have developed. The tool records which specific coastal protection measures would be useful in which region - a good guide for politics.

New ideas for the political work

Daniel Günther gained a lot of new ideas for his political work. Photo: Hereon/Steffen Niemann

At the end of his visit, Daniel Günther drew a positive conclusion: "I am very impressed by what I have seen here." He had gained many new insights, particularly about how the climate in Schleswig-Holstein will develop in the coming years and what challenges the state will face in order to better prepare for them. "I am taking a lot from this for my political work," said the Prime Minister.

Matthias Rehahn expressed his thanks for the successful cooperation with the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein and emphasized that cutting-edge research is only possible with the support of politicians.

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