An innovative social impact analysis (SIA) of climate adaptation policy
Climate change is radically transforming our living environment. To both protect the Netherlands and make it future-proof, a forward-looking National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2026 (NAS’26) is required. Commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, KIN has developed an innovative social impact analysis that, for the first time, provides policymakers and other stakeholders with a broad understanding of the consequences of climate adaptation policy for people.
Climate policy affects our physical environment, but it is also important to understand its impact on people. That is why, in addition to the NAS’26 and on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the KIN carried out an innovative social impact analyis (SIA). This SIA provides policymakers and other stakeholders for the first time with a broad understanding of the impact of climate adaptation policy on people.
The SIA supports the 15 adaptation tasks of the NAS by mapping out the social effects of the various adaptation pathways in the areas of (mental) health and well-being, social cohesion and socio-economic resilience.
SIA: mapping social impacts for a fair climate policy
What makes this social impact analysis (SIA) innovative is the close collaboration with civil society actors, (social) researchers, government officials and experts by experience. This applies to both the development of the methodology and its implementation. The aim of this transdisciplinary collaboration is to achieve a better alignment between practice, science and climate adaptation policy.
Preventing problems rather than fixing them afterwards
Another innovative aspect of this social impact analysis is that social effects are taken into account and incorporated at an earlier stage in the policy-making process. The methodology offers policymakers the opportunity to steer climate adaptation policy towards its potential social impacts during the policy-making process itself, rather than having to adjust or rectify these effects retrospectively. This makes it possible to shape climate policy in a more socially inclusive and equitable manner, ensuring it serves the interests of all residents of the Netherlands and the Caribbean.
Download the social impact analysis for NAS’26
Both the NAS’26 and the publication ‘The social impacts of climate adaptation’ are available for anyone to view.
The full ‘Draft National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2026’ and other documents published in connection with the NAS’26 can be found on the website of the House of Representatives. From 9 June, it will also be possible to comment on the NAS’26 via the Participation Platform.
The social impact analysis (SIA), developed by KIN, and the accompanying appendix describing the methods used, can be downloaded below.
