National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2016 (NAS)
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Adapting with ambition National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2016 (NAS) December 2016 Background and status This document sets out the Netherlands’ the Environment (RIVM) and the (Dutch Society for Nature Conservation), national climate adaptation strategy. It has Netherlands Environmental Assessment RIONED, Stadswerk, UvW, the Dutch been produced under the responsibility of Agency (PBL). On 15 September 2016, Association of Insurers, VNG, World the Minister for the Environment, acting on proposals were discussed at a consultation Wildlife Fund, Centraal Beheer Achmea, behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and meeting attended by the Minister for the Amsterdam Rainproof, Atelier Groenblauw, the Environment, the Minister of Health, Environment and senior representatives Bureau Stroming, Bureau ZET, Climate Welfare and Sport, the Minister of of the Association of Provinces of the Adaptation Services, CLM Onderzoek en Economic Affairs, the Minister of Netherlands (IPO), the Association of Advies B.V., De Betekenaar, Deltares, Agriculture, the Minister of Security and Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and the Movares, HKV – Lijn in Water, Amsterdam Justice, and the Minister of Overseas Trade Association of Regional Water Authorities University of Applied Sciences, CROW, and Development Cooperation. (UvW). A draft version of the NAS was ORG-ID, ProRail, Royal HaskoningDHV, produced with the assistance of external Sweco Nederland B.V., Synergos The National Climate Adaptation Strategy experts in various disciplines. Communicatie, Twynstra Gudde, VisNed, – NAS – is the result of a participative Wageningen University and Research Centre, process involving public sector authorities Several organizations* have made a Alterra, WING, and Zegge & Schrijve. at regional and local level, water significant contribution to the current management authorities, knowledge document. They include the provinces of The 2016 NAS project team: Stef Meijs institutes, private sector companies and Noord-Holland, Noord-Brabant, Overijssel (project manager, Ministry of Infrastructure societal organizations. Important input and Zuid-Holland, the municipalities of and the Environment, IenM), Ytsen was derived from three workshop sessions. Amersfoort, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Delft, Deelstra (WING) Annemarieke Grinwis A review group comprising representatives Gouda, Rotterdam, The Hague, Tilburg, (IenM), Paul van Hemert (IenM), Kim van of the relevant ministries, knowledge Utrecht, Venlo and Zwolle, the regional Nieuwaal (CAS), Tis Solleveld van Helden institutes and societal organizations was health authorities of Gelderland Midden, (IenM), Hilde Westera (Rijkswaterstaat) appointed to monitor progress and create Haaglanden, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and Berend van Zeggeren (Synergos the necessary grassroots support. Interim the Delfland Water Authority, IPO, KNMI, Communicatie). results were discussed at meetings PBL, the Midden-Holland metropolitan attended by the directors of ministry region, Rijkswaterstaat, RIVM, the Zeeland * This list is as complete as possible. It is nevertheless possible that some names departments, the Delta Programme Safety Region, Waternet, Rijn en IJssel have inadvertently been omitted, for which Commissioner, the Royal Netherlands Water, Rivierenland Water, DNB, we apologise. Meteorological Institute (KNMI), the Climate Alliance Netherlands, Natuur en National Institute for Public Health and Milieu Overijssel, Natuurmonumenten Workshop session in Utrecht. Contents Foreword 2 Executive summary 3 1. Necessity and purpose 5 1.1. Climate change in the Netherlands 5 1.2. Climate-proofing the Netherlands 6 1.3. Structure of this document 6 2. The effects of climate change 9 2.1. Positive effects 9 2.2. The effects at a glance 9 2.3. Notes on the diagrams 11 3. Challenges 20 3.1. Effects demanding urgent action 20 3.2. Measures already in place 25 3.3. Aspects demanding special attention 29 4. The approach 31 4.1. Raising awareness 31 4.2. Climate adaptation in practice 31 4.3. Using and expanding existing knowledge 34 4.4. Addressing the urgent risks 35 4.5. Embedding health within policy and legislation 38 4.6. Monitoring 39 5. From strategy to implementation 40 Appendix 1 Climate effects by impact and urgency 42 Appendix 2 Crossovers 44 2 Adapting with ambition Foreword by the Minister for the Environment “Bring Paris Home!” This was the message of the National Climate Summit held in October 2016, referring to the international agreement to limit global warming to less than 2°C. This is likely to prove a major challenge, as is the task of preparing the Netherlands to face the effects of climate change. As the Delta Programme Commissioner Wim Kuijken remarked during the Summit, mitigation and adaptation are two sides of the same climate coin. This National Climate Adaptation Strategy will help the Netherlands to meet the challenges ahead. It introduces various new initiatives and will help to push forward those already in progress. The Netherlands is particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. At the same time, our knowledge and expertise enable us to play a prominent role in climate adaptation. Much is happening in terms of research, policy development and practical projects by private sector companies, civil society and engaged individuals. Even so, there is room for improvement in several areas, including public awareness. Everyone can – and indeed must – do their bit to ensure that the Netherlands is better protected against heat, drought, flooding and other extreme weather conditions. This is a joint responsibility for us all. In a report published in October 2016, the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) noted that Dutch climate policy must be based on a long-term perspective. The Council stressed the importance of consistency and coherence: climate policy must be coordinated with that in other domains. Climate adaptation and mitigation measures should form a prominent component of spatial planning and infrastructural development, in accordance with the principles presented in this National Climate Adaptation Strategy. This document is based on the latest research and a comparison of various possible scenarios. It represents the combined input of experts in a wide range of disciplines. Among the likely effects of climate change are some which must now be addressed as a matter of urgency. The proposed approach encourages everyone to contribute. The government will provide all necessary support. Climate change brings challenges but it also creates opportunities. We must exploit those opportunities to the greatest extent possible. Sharon Dijksma Minister for the Environment National Climate Adaptation Strategy 2016 3 Executive summary The negative effects of climate change must be minimized or at least made manageable. Those effects include damage to property, nuisance or inconvenience, disease, increased mortality and a decline in environmental and ecological quality. This National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS) introduces various new initiatives and will accelerate the progress of ongoing initiatives. It builds upon a decade of climate adaptation policy and, in combination with the Delta Programme, sets out the Netherlands’ response to climate change. One important component of the strategy is the desire to unite all parties in pursuing common objectives. The NAS answers the European Commission’s request for member states to produce a climate adaptation strategy no later than 2017. Analysis of effects The NAS uses four diagrams (‘Hotter’, ‘Wetter’, ‘Drier’ and ‘Rising Sea Level’) to visualize and policy the effects of climate change within nine sectors: water and spatial management; nature; agriculture, horticulture and fisheries; health and welfare; recreation and tourism; infrastructure (road, rail, water and aviation); energy; IT and telecommunications; public safety and security. Six climate effects which call for immediate action have been identified: 1. Greater heat stress leading to increased morbidity, hospital admissions and mortality, as well as reduced productivity. 2. More frequent failure of vital systems: energy, telecommunications, IT and transport infrastructures. 3. More frequent crop failures or other problems in the agricultural sector, such as decreased yields or damage to production resources. 4. Shifting climate zones whereby some flora and fauna species will be unable to migrate or adapt, due in part to the lack of an internationally coordinated spatial policy. 5. Greater health burden and loss of productivity due to possible increase in infectious diseases or allergic (respiratory) conditions such as hay fever. 6. Cumulative effects whereby a systems failure in one sector or at one location triggers further problems elsewhere. Attention must also be devoted to climate effects which are not expected to emerge until somewhat later this century but which call for urgent attention due to their high impact. They include the failure of the electricity supply grid due to extreme weather, restriction of shipping due to unusually high or low water levels, the loss of habitats and species due to extremely low water in river systems, large-scale failure of IT systems due to problems experienced by crucial IT service providers elsewhere in the world, large-scale failure of IT services due to overheating, and changing migration patterns of various migratory animal and bird species. There may also be ground subsidence causing damage to buildings and infrastructure, safety risks further to the