Adaptation initiatives in the Netherlands Jelle van Minnen Rob Swart (Alterra) Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 2 Alterra Outline - Dutch Adaptation Research - Dutch Adaptation Policy - Delta committee - PBL study on climate robustness

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 3 Alterra Dutch Research Programmes Living with Water (finalizing) Room for Climate (finalizing) Knowledge for Climate (running) Evaluation Water Plan (in concept)

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 4 Alterra Dutch Research Programmes (ii) Climatic Change DOI /s 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

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 5 Alterra 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

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 6 Alterra Governmental programme ARC (ii) - Biodiversity - Safety

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 7 Alterra Governmental programme ARC (iii) What? Preparing NAS Discussion on required initiatives Coordination actions towards a climate- proof Netherlands=> routeplanner

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 8 Alterra 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

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 9 Alterra Delta committee -Starting point; Be prepared for worst case Deltacommissie: +6 o C in 2100

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 10 Alterra 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

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 11 Alterra Delta committee (iii) 12 recommendations 1. Flood protection level 2. New urban development plans => CBA 3. Areas outside the dikes => not impede discharge 4. North Sea coast => Sand suppletion 5. Wadden Sea area => natural processes 6. South-western Delta: Eastern Scheldt => barriers 7. South-western Delta: Western Scheldt 8. South-western Delta:Krammer-Volkerak Zoommeer => flood areas 9. The major rivers area => no further delay 10. Rijnmond => re-routing water 11. IJssellake area => fresh water reservoir 12. Political, administrative, legal, financial Delta law, commissioner, fund

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 12 Alterra 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)

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 13 Alterra Spearheads for a climate-proofing the Nederlands

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 14 Alterra Follow-up: research in 2009/2010 Research: options for long term spatial strategies Analysis Developing options spatial strategies Comparison 2008/ /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

Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency 15 Alterra Thank you