Nature causes billions in damage - especially in the South

Berlin. Natural hazards caused billions in damage in Germany last year. Claims for property and motor insurers alone totaled €5.7 billion, according to an overview from the German Insurance Association (GDV) obtained by dpa. This is roughly the same amount as in 2023. More than half of this amount affected the two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where severe flooding occurred a year ago.

The total damage is likely to be significantly higher, as far from everything is insured. For last year's floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, estimates showed that only about half of the total of more than four billion euros was insured.

"Heavy rain events and floods alone cost €2.6 billion – around €1 billion more than the long-term average," says GDV Managing Director Jörg Asmussen, referring to insured losses. He also sees the consequences of climate change here, which are becoming "increasingly noticeable" in Germany. Damage caused by storms and hail, on the other hand, was lower last year. In motor insurance, claims for natural hazards totaled around €1.3 billion – roughly the long-term average. No distinction is made between hail, storms, floods, or other causes.

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In a comparison of the federal states, Baden-Württemberg, with €1.601 billion in insured losses, is marginally ahead of Bavaria at €1.600 billion. This is likely due to the fact that natural hazards such as flooding are much more frequently insured in the southwest than in the Free State. It is therefore likely that the highest total losses were likely incurred in Bavaria, although no figures are available.

The third-highest insured losses were recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia, with €613 million—primarily caused by storms and hail—as was the case in Lower Saxony, where €313 million was incurred. In Hesse, the losses were €252 million, in Saarland €171 million, and in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony €166 million each.

The lowest damage was reported in Bremen, at €17 million. The other city-states also escaped relatively unscathed, with €39 million in Berlin and €67 million in Hamburg. This also applies to the rural state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which reported the second-lowest damage at €34 million.

Overall, the €5.7 billion in damages nationwide is rather high compared to long-term comparisons. "The figures speak for themselves: climate change adaptation must be a priority for the new federal government," says Asmussen of the German Insurance Association (GDV). "Compulsory insurance alone will not prevent damage. What we need is a comprehensive natural hazards concept that includes not only an insurance solution but also preventive measures. This is the only way to create long-term security in the face of climate change – for people and for municipal infrastructure."

At least mandatory insurance for residential buildings is expected to come into effect before the end of this legislative period, as Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. "Climate change is progressing, and without better insurance coverage, it will not be possible in the future."

RND/dpa