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.