HUE-2: Usage of warning and information services

The picture shows a hand holding a smartphone. The NINA app is called up in it. Click to enlarge
Many warning/info services are accessible en-route by using a mobile phone with internet connection.
Source: Photograph: © Konstanze Schönthaler / Bosch & Partner GmbH

2019 Monitoring Report on the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change

Table of Contents

 

HUE-2: Usage of warning and information services

Warning and information services operated at Federal and Länder level are used by more than half of the population.

Three stacking columns represent the percentage of respondents who use warning and information systems. The percentage of respondents is read below for each category in ascending year: yes: 41, 61 and 57 per cent; no: 56, 35 and 41 per cent, don't know: 3, 4 and 2 per cent. Within the no category, parts of the column section are marked for those who said they intend to use it in the future. These are 7, 7 and 12 percent.
HUE-2: Usage of warning and information services

Three stacking columns represent the percentage of respondents who use warning and information systems. The percentage of respondents is read below for each category in ascending year: yes: 41, 61 and 57 per cent; no: 56, 35 and 41 per cent, don't know: 3, 4 and 2 per cent. Within the no category, parts of the column section are marked for those who said they intend to use it in the future. These are 7, 7 and 12 percent.

Source: BMUB & UBA (Umweltbewusstsein in Deutschland)
 

Informing the public – an important task at Federal level

Warning and information systems are key tools used by Federal Government for informing the public of basic risks and imminent critical events. It is in the interest of Federal Government to ensure that these systems are used by the public as much as possible and to make them better known.

There are various warning and information systems available at Federal level in connection with climate-related changes in terms of risks and stress situations. The heat warning service was introduced by DWD in 2005. When defined threshold values threaten, this service issues heat warnings at Federal and Länder level for the current and the subsequent day. The general public can check for warnings on the internet. Furthermore, the DWD uses this portal to issue warnings for other major and extreme weather events such as storms, heavy rain or thunderstorms. For enhanced information for allergy sufferers, the DWD jointly with the PID publishes a pollen exposure risk index. During the season when pollen is airborne, this index provides information on the intensity of exposure to the eight allergologically most important types of pollen for the current and the subsequent day.

Besides, citizens can subscribe to the Federal Government’s warnings app NINA (Emergency Information and News App) offered by the BBK to receive warnings in respect of civil protection or storm warnings issued by the DWD which also provides flood information via its transnational Flood Portal for both individually selectable locations and for their own location.

Less directly associated with climate change are health risks caused by ozone and UV radiation. As climate change progresses, certain weather regimes may emerge more frequently, increasing the formation of ground-level ozone. In a global context there are also ongoing discussions about impacts on the stratospheric ozone layer which might impact on the intensity of UV radiation in our own latitudes. Prognoses on ground-level ozone are issued via the UBA’s internet offerings. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), in co-operation with the UBA, uses the Germany-wide UV monitoring network to generate information on UV radiation on a daily basis. UV warnings are also issued by the DWD.

Particular attention is paid to the flood warning or information services which have been operated for many years by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration which publishes current water level data for Federal Waterways. The same can be said of the Hochwasserportal (floodwater portal) operated jointly by the Länder. This portal issues data on flood warnings on a daily basis for any water bodies that are part of their remit. A smaller target audience subscribes to the Sturmflutwarndienst (storm surge warning service) operated by BSH, which communicates water levels indicated at gauges on the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts.

Other extant warning and information services focusing on events which can be associated with climate change are of particular interest to specific professional groups, companies or administrations. These include the Länder’s phytosanitary services which forecast the occurrence of pest organisms and recommend integrated pest control measure. Likewise, information services forecasting low water levels are available.

Since 2012, the representative population survey ’Environmental Awareness in Germany’ (Umweltbewusstsein in Deutschland)I has also contained questions regarding the usage of warning and information services. The survey refers to examples such as the pollen information service, the heat warning services and the flood warning or information services. In the 2012 survey, 41 % of all respondents stated that they make use of warning and information services. The outcomes of subsequent surveys indicate an increase in usage. In 2014, 61 % and in 2016, 57 % of respondents stated that they use warning services. The proportion of respondents who intend to use these services in future amounted to 7 % in 2014 and 12 % in 2016 respectively. The increased use of smartphones facilitates the use of warning services as it is easy to consult these services spontaneously while travelling. The offerings of relevant apps have also increased, as demonstrated by the example of the enhancement of the pollen information services provided by PID.

These and other information services related to climate impacts and the prevention of damage arising from climate change are offered in bundled form by the German Climate Preparedness Portal available at www.klivoportal.de.

I - see footnote p. 247

 

Interfaces

GE-R-1: Heat warning service

GE-R-2: Successes of the heat warning system - case study

GE-R-3: Information on Pollen

 

Objectives

Efficient early warning systems reduce the risks of health impacts. (DAS, ch. 3.2.1)

Examining whether climate-related changes necessitate the adaptation of forecasting and warning services in maritime shipping (DAS, ch. 3.2.11)