Germany launches nationwide competition to reduce soil sealing
A nationwide competition in Germany, known as ‘Abpflastern’, aims to combat soil sealing by encouraging cities and municipalities to replace paving stones with green spaces such as trees, shrubs, or flowers. The initiative runs from mid-March to the end of October, challenging local governments to compete by removing as much pavement as possible to improve climate resilience.
According to the German Environment Agency, approximately 45 percent of built and driven surfaces in Germany were completely sealed by the end of 2024. Soil sealing prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground and contributes to the urban heat island effect during summer. By de-sealing these areas, cities can improve water absorption, facilitate evaporative cooling, and provide habitats for biodiversity.
The competition is modeled after the Dutch ‘Tegelwippen’ initiative, which began in 2020 as a contest between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In 2024, 199 Dutch municipalities participated, resulting in the removal of more than 5.5 million paving stones, according to a report from the Wuppertal Institute. In Germany, the de-sealing process has already covered an area equivalent to nearly one and a half football fields in 2025.
Entities
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland · Germany · Lina Al-Naggar · Umweltbundesamt · Wuppertal Institut
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The German competition is modeled after the Dutch ‘Tegelwippen’ initiative. www.tlz.de · www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 5.5 million paving stones were removed in the Netherlands in 2024. www.tlz.de · www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2024, 199 Dutch municipalities participated in the Tegelwippen competition. www.tlz.de · www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, an area equivalent to nearly 1.5 football fields has been de-sealed in Germany. www.tlz.de · www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The ‘Abpflastern’ competition runs from mid-March to the end of October. www.tlz.de · www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 45 percent of built and driven surfaces in Germany were completely sealed at the end of 2024. www.tlz.de · www.wp.de · www.morgenpost.de