Lower Saxony funds €2.25M climate project to restore soils and groundwater

Lower Saxony is investing €2.25 million in a project to help soils and groundwater adapt to climate change. The funding, announced by Environment Minister Christian Meyer on Wednesday, will support practical measures—including a new guide for municipalities on de-sealing surfaces. The initiative is part of the state's wider strategy to tackle extreme weather through better soil management. The KliBoG project focuses on improving how soils handle heavy rain and drought. Sealed surfaces, like concrete and asphalt, prevent water from soaking into the ground, worsening flooding and water shortages. The state's new guide, De-sealing for Climate Adaptation, offers tools to assess these areas and plan removal projects.

The second part of the guide was recently published by the State Office for Mining, Energy, and Geology (LBEG). While it includes examples of completed projects and planning advice, no official figures exist on how many municipalities have adopted the measures. The funding will help local authorities put the recommendations into practice. Soils act as natural buffers in extreme weather by absorbing and storing water. By reducing sealed surfaces, the project aims to restore this function and make communities more resilient to climate impacts.

The €2.25 million allocation will back both research and on-the-ground action. Municipalities now have access to a detailed guide for identifying and removing sealed areas. The long-term goal is to improve water retention and reduce the risks of flooding and drought across Lower Saxony.