"Sustainability or after us the deluge?" titled the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, published in Saxony-Anhalt, in August 2002, on the occasion of two parallel events: the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the so-called century flood on the Elbe. Due to prolonged rainfall, the Elbe and its tributaries reached unprecedented high levels in many places, and particularly in the low mountain ranges, very high flow velocities, resulting in numerous towns being flooded. The damage caused by the flooding is among the highest ever recorded globally. "We will give the rivers more space again. Otherwise, they will simply take it," commented the then German Environment Minister about the announcement of the event nearly a year later.