Climate adaptation in the Netherlands: pioneering the path to resilience
In the Netherlands, we face an immense challenge: how can we make our country resilient against changing climate conditions? As sea levels rise, extreme weather events become more frequent, and our infrastructure comes under pressure, we must act proactively to climate-proof the Netherlands.
Embracing complexity in climate adaptation
‘I don’t want to make it more complex, but I’m going to anyway,’ declared a participant during the first Make-aton as part of the new National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS). How do you create a robust strategy for all the areas where the Netherlands needs to be climate-adaptive without the possible solutions and measures conflicting with each other? Indeed, a highly complex task. But it is also an urgent mission. ‘We need to dare to do new things,’ said Chantal Oudkerk Pool, Project Leader of the National Climate Adaptation Strategy. Therefore, the Climate Research Initiative Netherlands (KIN), together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) as the coordinating ministry, is organizing this series of Make-atons. Here, experts and policymakers work together to develop adaptation pathways that will serve as input for the new NAS. The first session on May 30 focused on formulating a method for establishing these adaptation pathways.
Climate-proof Netherlands, now and in the future
To ensure the Netherlands is as well-prepared as possible for the changing climate, the Ministry of IenW coordinates the revision of the NAS. The NAS provides a coherent view of the direction, routes, and milestones for a climate-proof Netherlands, now and in the future. The new NAS is set to be ready by 2026. In this new strategy, adaptation pathways are being developed for fifteen substantive tasks (such as health, waterlogging, and infrastructure). IenW has approached KIN to strengthen the process of creating these adaptation pathways from a scientific perspective.
Possible and desirable futures
The first Make-aton aimed at finding or developing a suitable method to effectively and at the right level of abstraction represent adaptation pathways. The approximately 30 participants included a group of ‘method experts’ (people with expertise in creating adaptation or transition pathways), several individuals with expertise in visualizing or clarifying policy choices, and a group of policymakers from the ministries IenW, EZK, OCW, and VWS – the so-called ‘task leaders’ responsible for certain themes identified in the NAS. During an initial exploration, the experts explained various possible methods. The participants then split into three groups to work in sprints on different elements of the method. One of the three groups looked at the importance of an attractive future vision and the influence of different worldviews and guiding principles within it. Another group examined how milestones and measures can be positioned over time, considering both the future and the past. The last group focused on coherence and how potential interactions between adaptation pathways can be considered from the start without becoming unworkable. During the sprints, there was a fruitful exchange of ideas, utilizing existing knowledge and expertise to develop adaptation pathways. Meanwhile, policymakers provided relevant input and feedback on the content and what is practically useful for them.
Understanding concepts
At the end of the day, all participants came together to formulate a joint method. The challenge of working from different disciplines, fields, and functions immediately brings the challenge of understanding each other’s language and creating a common understanding of concepts. A first step has been taken, and a plan has been made to develop the adaptation pathways in the next two Make-atons.
Join in!
In the upcoming Make-aton, scheduled for June 26, experts and policymakers will work on the substantive development of the first adaptation pathways. They will build on the plan developed during the first Make-aton. The focus is on these five themes from the NAS: (1) Waterlogging; (2) Health; (3) Cultural Heritage; (4) Waterways; and (5) Infrastructure (including (rail)roads, energy, vital infrastructure, (water)ways). Further elaboration of the adaptation pathways will be done by (representatives of) the teams between June and October. The final Make-aton will take place on October 17. During this session, they will reflect on the pathways developed so far and identify relationships between different adaptation pathways. They will also consider the influence of other tasks and transitions on these crucial strategies for a climate-proof Netherlands.
Do you want to participate? Sign up here. Do you have questions? Send us a message via contact@kin.nl.
