Germany’s “Blauer Kompass” award: prize for outstanding projects for climate change precautions and adaptation

Projects from Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate received the "Blauer Kompass" in 2024

The winners of the German "Blauer Kompass" Prize 2024 confirmed. With over 300 applications, the nationwide competition for the highest state honour for climate crisis preparedness and adaptation once again set a new participation record. State Secretary for the Environment Stefan Tidow (on behalf of the Federal Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke) and Head of Department Bettina Rechenberg (on behalf of the President of the German Environment Agency Dirk Messner) awarded the best projects during the "Week of Climate Adaptation" ("Woche der Klimaanpassung") in Berlin. The winners, awarded 25,000 euros each, created five outstanding climate adaptation projects on the topics of heavy rainfall prevention, disaster control, heat resilience as well as flood control. The winners were selected by a distinguished jury. Additionally, a community prize was awarded via online voting.

Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke commented: "The consequences of climate change are being felt in Germany too and are becoming increasingly direct and frequent. During this legislative period, we have finally established an initial binding framework for climate change preparedness at the federal, state, and municipal levels with the nationwide Climate Adaptation Act. We are also developing a climate adaptation strategy with measurable targets. The awarded projects for the "Blauer Kompass" prize clearly demonstrate that effective preparedness can only be achieved through collective effort. They are an impressive example of how smart ideas can be turned into practical solutions through local commitment, exchange and networking."⁠ ⁠

UBA President Dirk Messner stated: "The flooding in southern Germany and Saarland, along with this year's record temperatures, further illustrate that we must take immediate and consistent action to adapt to the consequences of the climate crisis." The winners of the German "Blauer Kompass" award are excellent examples of how such precautions can work. The winning projects inspire others to follow suit and make an important contribution towards a climate-resilient Germany." 

The nationwide "Blauer Kompass" competition took place for the fifth time in 2024. Its goal is to present innovative, efficient and sustainable solutions for precautionary and adaptive measures to mitigate the consequences of the global climate crisis, such as heat, drought, heavy rain and floods. The awards ceremony is the highlight of the nationwide "Week of Climate Adaptation", in which the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Centre for Climate Adaptation (Zentrum KlimaAnpassung) present the diversity and great commitment to climate adaptation in Germany with events throughout the country under the motto "Together for Climate Adaptation". 

The submissions for the "Blauer Kompass", of which there were over 300, were judged according to the six UBA Criteria for Good Practice of Adaptation with support from the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung) and the co2online competition office. A distinguished jury, consisting of representatives from municipal umbrella organisations as well as representatives in the areas of politics, business, research, volunteering and climate communication, selected four winners out of 20 nominated projects in June. The prizes were awarded in the categories of "municipalities", "private and municipal companies", "research and education institutions", as well as "clubs, associations and foundations". Additionally, a public vote was held for a community prize, in which nearly 18,000 votes were cast. 

As well as the prize money to the value of 25,000 euros, the winning projects also received support with their press and publicity work including a short film for each winning project.

The winners

Category: Municipalities

Gö goes green: inform, advise, support - heavy rainfall prevention in Göttingen (Lower Saxony)

As part of the project "Gö goes green - heavy rainfall prevention in Göttingen" by the City of Göttingen and the city's waste management companies, a comprehensive, free offer for heavy rain prevention was developed. An interactive map visualises the flood risk in the city and raises awareness among citizens about the topic of heavy rainfall. Additionally, property owners can receive free property information details about their buildings and can also take advantage of a free on-site consultation. Furthermore, the City of Göttingen financially supports citizens in the implementation of recommended measures. 60 percent of the eligible costs for measures regarding property protection (e.g. pressure-tight doors, purchase of cisterns) are covered by the "Göttingen Climate Fund" ("KlimaFonds Göttingen"). 

Category: Private and municipal companies

Innovation platform for authorities and organisations with security responsibilities - emergency services develop solutions for consequences of disasters (Rhineland-Palatinate)

Inventied GmbH, from Rockenhausen, developed a digital "innovation platform for authorities and organisations with security responsibilities". This platform serves as the first point of contact for emergency services, for example the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (Technisches Hilfswerk) or the fire department, who have innovative ideas about efficiently managing consequences of disasters. The best ideas submitted are further developed with the input of the emergency services into products that are market-ready. In order to create incentives for participation in the innovation process, the originator of the idea receives some of the profits from sold products. 

Category: Research and educational institutions

HydroSKIN - building façade elements against flooding and heat (Baden-Württemberg)

High temperatures and strong precipitation impact cities in particular because sealed surfaces impair the thermal and hydrological balance. This is where the University of Stuttgart's project "HydroSKIN" comes in: light façade elements made of textiles and membranes absorb rainwater and reduce the flood risk through relieving the sewers. On hot days, the buildings as well as the urban spaces are cooled by evaporating the collected (rain)water, contributing to heat resilience. The individually configurable textile covers can be easily added both to new-builds and existing buildings and make an innovative contribution to the list of measures for creating a sponge city. 

Category: Clubs, associations and foundations

Heat helpers in residential neighbourhoods: training and installation of heat helpers in residential neighbourhoods (Brandenburg)

The project "heat helpers in residential neighbourhoods" by the association BÄR meets ADLER e. V. - Verein für ein gutes Morgen in Berlin und Brandenburg (English: BEAR meets EAGLE e. V. - Association for a good tomorrow in Berlin und Brandenburg) sets up a neighbourhood network of heat helpers in two selected neighbourhoods in the City of Brandenburg an der Havel. The goal is to protect older people from the health risks of extreme heat and to preserve their quality of life. For this purpose, people in contact with the seniors in the neighbourhood (e.g. pharmacists) and people in their social environment (e.g. relatives) are selected, sensitized and, if necessary, trained. They can then operate as heat helpers, together with practice partners and social stakeholders. This encourages neighbourhood solidarity, improves senior citizens' quality of life and eases the burden on the health and social services. 

Community prize

Towards a climate proof city with IoT - students measure heat stress in Dormagen (North Rhine-Westphalia)

In the project "Towards a Climate Proof City with IoT", students of Leibniz Gymnasium in Dormagen use the Internet of Things (IoT) to identify places in the urban areas that are particularly susceptible to heat stress. For this purpose, they have developed, built and programmed temperature and humidity sensors to determine the need for local action and contribute to the development of heat protection measures. The raw data is graphically processed in real time and made freely available to the City of Dormagen as well as its citizens.