Germany news: Surf's up again in Munich!

What you need to know

• Surfing has resumed in Munich's English Garden after the city's new mayor lifted a ban with a new city decree.
• Only experienced surfers are allowed on the wave until 10 p.m. with new safety rules introduced following a fatal accident last year.
• Germany reaches its 2026 Earth Overshoot Day on May 10
• Environmental group BUND blames a heavy reliance on fossil fuels and energy-intensive sectors

Here are the latest developments from and about Germany on Saturday May 9, 2026. 

Germany hits 2026 resource limit

Germany has already used up all of the natural resources that should last for the entire year.

The date, known as Earth Overshoot Day, is calculated annually by the Global Footprint Network for individual countries and for the planet as a whole.

If everyone on Earth consumed as many natural resources and produced as much carbon dioxide as people in Germany, the planet's annual biocapacity would already be exhausted within the first third of the year.

According to the German Federation for the Environment and Nature (BUND), Germany consumes far too many resources, mainly because of its heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The main contributors are energy-intensive industries, the building sector, road transport and industrial livestock farming.

As a result, the consequences are already being felt through droughts, heavy rainfall and increasing heat in cities.

"Our current way of living and doing business is not sustainable," BUND chairman Olaf Bandt said. "Instead of switching to renewables, we are continuing to rely on coal, oil and gas."

Electricity from solar and wind power, along with heat pumps and lightweight, small and efficient electric cars, would instead provide independence, planning certainty and climate protection, Bandt said.

In 2025, Germany's Earth Overshoot Day fell on May 3. The fact that the date shifted back by a week in 2026 was not the result of a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, but updated data and changes in calculation methods.

Munich reopens Eisbach wave to surfers

Surfing has resumed at Munich's Eisbach wave, in the city's famous English Garden after officials lifted a previous ban.

Green Party Mayor Dominik Krause approved the move by issuing a revised general decree shortly after a new city coalition was formed.

"Surfing on the Eisbach is an integral part of the Munich way of life; the Eisbach wave is a landmark of the city of Munich," Krause declared.

From the very beginning, he noted, his goal had been "to open the wave as soon as possible." To take this step, he worked closely with representatives of the Munich surfing community, who have organized themselves into two associations.

Only experienced river surfers are allowed to use the wave, and only until 10 p.m., with new safety rules including quick-release leashes to reduce risks in the strong current.

The site had been closed after a fatal accident in April last year, when a surfer was pulled underwater after her leash became trapped.

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

You join us as we learn that one of the world's strangest surfing venues, in the capital of landlocked Bavaria, is once again allowing tourists to catch a wave.

Meanwhile, Germany has already consumed its share of the Earth's resources for the year.

Stay with us for more on the latest stories from and about Germany.