Land use: We need a different approach

More than 83 percent of Germany's land area is used for “green” purposes. More than half of this is used for agriculture and just under a third for forests and other vegetation-rich areas. However, the proportion of land used for settlements and transport is increasing year on year. Progressive soil sealing not only jeopardizes water permeability and soil fertility, but also exacerbates urban overheating in summer.