Steinmeier: Europe must strengthen its protection against climate change

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for increased measures to protect people in the Alpine region from landslides and mudslides, warning that such phenomena could become more frequent due to climate change. The statements were made during a meeting of the heads of state of the six German-speaking European countries in Austria. The main theme of this year's meeting is climate change and its impact on the Alpine region. Steinmeier said that extreme phenomena in the Alps do not necessarily have to reach the scale of recent events such as those in Nepal or last year in Blatten, Switzerland, to pose a major risk. In his opinion, such events will become more frequent in the future. The German president stressed that local signs of global warming are worrying and require concrete measures. He said that every effort must be made to limit global warming, but that in the short term it is essential to accurately identify the areas most at risk. At the same time, authorities must ensure that the population in these regions benefits from effective early warning systems. Steinmeier warned that the fight against climate change cannot be left "at the back of the political agenda”.

During the meeting, Steinmeier visited the Stubai Glacier in Tyrol, along with the other heads of state attending. Officials received explanations from glaciologists about the effects of climate change on the glacier and the Alpine region. The meeting in Austria brings together the presidents of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as representatives of Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. The meeting takes place annually, on a rotating basis, in one of the six participating countries and has been organized since 2004, with the exception of 2020. For the 2026 edition, Austria is the host country, and climate change and its consequences in the Alpine region are the central topic of the discussions.