Floods fuel climate debate in Germany's election campaign

Germany's deadliest inland floods in living memory have propelled the issue of climate change to the fore of the country's election campaign

LUETZERATH, Germany -- As Germany reels from the deadliest inland floods in living memory, one word has been on the lips of leading politicians: “klimawandel,” the German word for climate change. Last week's disaster has propelled the issue to the fore of an election campaign that will determine who succeeds Angela Merkel as German chancellor this fall after her 16 years in office. It has also put the front-runner in the race, her party's new leader, Armin Laschet, on the defensive amid accusations that he stalled efforts to expand the use of renewable energy, phase out coal power and introduce universal highway speed limits during four years as governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state. An industrial powerhouse, the state is home to almost a quarter of Germany’s population and was among the regions hit hardest by the floods, which claimed more than 200 lives and caused billions of euros (dollars) worth of damage.