17 march 2009 Climate Adaptation in the Netherlands Renske Peters Ministry of Transport, Public...

17 march 2009

Climate Adaptation in the Netherlands

Renske Peters

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands

2 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

The Netherlands: a river delta under pressure• About 600 km of main rivers• International catchments• About 350 km coastline• 55% of land below sea level• 60% of population below sea

level• 65% of GNP earned below sea

level • 3500 km of flood defences,

hundreds of locks, sluices, pumping stations

3 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Climate Change

Sealevel rise(… cm/100y)

More /extreme storms?

More/intense rainfall

Spatialdevelopments

Subsidence

Salt intrusion

Decreasedriver

discharge

Increased river

discharge

Increased erosion

More summer drought

4 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Getting prepared: Delta Committee

• Installation of Delta Committee (september 2007)

• Advice requested:– How to protect the Netherlands against consequences of climate

change.– Time scale: 2100 – 2200

5 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Delta Committee: 2 main aspects

1. Safety from flooding• Safety is first priority• Prevention our first concern• Flood risk management is a public good and responsibility

2. Sustainability• Adequate fresh water supply• Multifunctional solutions• Harmonise with natural processes• International cooperation

6 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

12 Recommendations

• Organise:• Legal framework• Finance• The process• Research new safety levels (2012)• Research fresh water supply and demand

• Specific area oriented recommendations:• Different challenges in different areas

7 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Delta Committee (Veerman)

• Handover to Prime Minister and Vice Minister

• Advice of Delta Committee

(september 2008)

8 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Implementation

• Implementation along two ways:– Governance– Programme

9 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Governance

• Ministerial Steering Group– Integrated responsibility at highest level– Prime Minister is chair– Vice Minister is politically responsible

• Tasks at hand in 2009:– Legal framework: Delta Act– Funding: Delta Fund– Scope of the programme: Delta Programme

10 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Governance: Delta Act 2009

• Delta Act: Legal framework for– Delta Programme– Delta Director– Funding

11 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Governance: Delta Fund

• Funding– Solid financial resources: Deltafund– Future proof

• Costs (estimate of the Delta Commission):– > 2050: 1,2 – 1,6 billion Euro per year– 2050 – 2100: 0,9 – 1,5 billion Euro per year

12 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Governance: Delta Director

• Delta Director, a new concept– Builder of the Delta Programme– Guards the cohesion, beats barriers, regionally and nationally– Speeds up the process, monitors the time table– Delta Director is a personality

13 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Delta Programme

1. Generic approach:• Safety against flooding• Sustainable Fresh water supply

2. Area oriented approach:– Different challenges in different regions

• Coastal zones• Rivers• IJsselmeer

– Integrated approach, e.g.:• Water and housing• Water and nature• Water and port development

14 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Dutch International Water Strategy

• Climate adaptation is key issue

• International Solidarity– Cooperation programmes in 5 Deltas

• EU cooperation

• Cooperation with neighbouring countries

15 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

The way ahead

• Commit• Connect• Cooperate

16 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Key principles

• Organise integrated political responsibility: out-of-the water-box• Organise an adequate legal framework• Organise solid financial resources• Look far ahead, and translate to actions for today• Remain flexible in view of the many uncertainties• Keep a time table: time to act now

17 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Thank you for your attention

18 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Multi functional Design

Super Levees:• No uncontrolable breaches

and resulting floods• Failure-proof because of

height, width or internal construction.

• Tailor-made design and execution.

19 17 march 2009Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat

Broadening the focus – new matches

Adaptation strategyWater management

and also:

Biodiversity

Quality of Life

Infrastructure & Economy

Climate researchMitigation research, and also: adaptation research

Regional developmentAnticipate on future climate,

and also:

Housing, Agriculture, etc.