Cities are getting smarter about water and other eco wins

Building back better after devastating floods in Germany

After deadly floods devastated Germany's Ahr Valley in 2021, reconstruction is focused on resilience rather than simply restoring what was lost. Five years after 135 people were killed and billions of euros in damage occurred, authorities are widening riverbanks, redesigning bridges, and restoring natural floodplains.

Creating spaces where water can safely overflow is an important part of the new strategyImage: Florian Kroker/DW

Local officials have even bought riverside land to turn it back into green overflow zones planted with trees and shrubs. At the same time, a network of 17 dams is planned to better manage extreme rainfall and reduce future risk.

Read the full story here: Germany's Ahr Valley: Rebuilding better after deadly flood