Adaptation initiativesin the Netherlands

Jelle van Minnen

Rob Swart (Alterra)

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)

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AlterraNetherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

Outline

- Dutch Adaptation Research- Dutch Adaptation Policy- Delta committee- PBL study on climate robustness

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Dutch Research Programmes

• Living with Water (finalizing)

• Room for Climate (finalizing)

• Knowledge for Climate (running)

• Evaluation Water Plan (in concept)

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Dutch Research Programmes (ii)

Climatic ChangeDOI 10.1007/s10584-009-9576-4

Adapting to climate change in The Netherlands: an inventory of climate adaptation options and ranking of alternatives

K. de Bruin · R. B. Dellink · A. Ruijs · L. Bolwidt · A. van Buuren · J. Graveland · R. S. de Groot · P. J. Kuikman · S. Reinhard · R. P. Roetter · V. C. Tassone · A. Verhagen · E. C. van Ierland

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AlterraNetherlands Environmental Assessment Agency

Governmental programme ARC

Where?water, spatial planning,biodiversity,….

Who? => multi governance- Min. of Housing, Spatial planning & Environment

(leading)- Min. of Transport, Public works & Water management - Min. of Agriculture, Nature & Food security- Union of Provinces- Union of Municipalities- Union of Water boards

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Governmental programme ARC (ii)

- Biodiversity - Safety

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Governmental programme ARC (iii)

What?•Preparing NAS•Discussion on required initiatives•Coordination actions towards a climate-proof Netherlands=> routeplanner

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Recent policy developments

- Advice of Deltacommittee on climate change, adaptation and water management (sept. 2008) => Advice considered in new National Waterplan (2009)

- Request to PBL: developing integrated options on long term spatial strategies for climate-proofing of the Netherlands

phase 1 Scoping report (2009) => basis for policy letter(Summer 2009)

phase 2 Options for LT spatial strategies (2010) => basis for governmental

and societal discussion

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Delta committee

- Starting point; Be prepared for worst caseDeltacommissie:

+6oC in 2100

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Delta committee (ii)

- Outcome: Safety first-Substantial decrease of probability of large numbers of casualties -> comparable with other hazards.-Improve safety against flooding with factor 10 at least

- Technical solutions e.g.: - failure-proof dikes- continuing suppletion

- Kabat et al., 2009: Nature Geoscience, Vol. 2 July 2009

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Delta committee (iii)

12 recommendations1. Flood protection level2. New urban development plans => CBA3. Areas outside the dikes => not impede

discharge4. North Sea coast => Sand suppletion5. Wadden Sea area => natural processes6. South-western Delta: Eastern Scheldt =>

barriers7. South-western Delta: Western Scheldt8. South-western Delta:Krammer-Volkerak

Zoommeer => flood areas9. The major rivers area => no further delay10. Rijnmond => re-routing water11. IJssellake area => fresh water reservoir12. Political, administrative, legal, financial

Delta law, commissioner, fund

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PBL Scoping report – analysis of main challenges

Topics addressed: - Safety against flooding (LT sea level rise)

- Fresh water availability (drought, water quality, salinisation)

- Agriculture (water, extreme weather events, diseases)

- Nature (spatial connectivity, environmental conditions)

- Human health (heat, air quality, allergies, vector borne diseases) - Energy supply (availability of cooling water, link with sust.energy)

- Transport (air, roads, waterways)

- Recreation and tourism (improved recreational conditions potentially adverse effects)

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Spearheads for a climate-proofing the Nederlands

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Follow-up: research in 2009/2010

Research: options for long term spatial strategies

Analysis Developing options spatial strategies Comparison 2008/2009 2009/2010

Climate change

Selection of main challenges

Criteria:

- Robustness, flexibility

- Costs short term/long term

- Benefits short term/long term

- Achievement of policy goals

- Governmental challenges

- Instruments

- Financing

- Interference EU policies

- Risks

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Thank you