Overview
- Researchers say sea-level rise cannot be stopped and is accelerating at about 4–5 millimeters per year, with roughly 1.0–1.1 meters expected by 2100.
- Germany’s coastal protection is described as strong but constrained, with feasible dike increases of only about 1.0–1.5 meters and price tags in the billions.
- Lower Saxony plans about €81 million in coastal protection this year, with costs typically shared roughly 70% by the federal government and 30% by the states.
- Proposed strategies include complementing hard defenses with seagrass meadows, salt marshes and oyster reefs to stabilize coasts and capture sediment.
- Offshore wind build-out requires new ports and larger maritime infrastructure, and planners are told to account for sea-level rise and rising dredging needs.