WHITEPAPER ON
Accelerating Climate Initiatives
MAY 2019
| 1 Climate change is one of the largest global challenges that mankind will face in the upcoming century. It demands stewardship from Van Oord in the field of water and energy. Our ambition is to make societies more resilient and sustainable, and create a better world for future generations. Sustainability, innovation, and collaboration are key to developing successful solutions to fulfill this ambition. That is why we have launched our game-changing S.E.A. programme.
Our S.E.A. programme consists of three mutually reinforcing themes: Accelerating climate initiatives, Enhancing the energy transition and Empowering nature and communities. In this white paper, we focus on the theme Accelerating climate initiatives. We highlight the scale and scope of the climate challenges we are facing and we propose ways of meeting these challenges using adaptation measures. We advocate making use of integrated solutions based on design, build, finance and maintain. This includes nature- based solutions and accounting for environmental and social impact.
Accelerating Enhancing Empowering climate initiatives the energy transition nature and communities | 2 Accelerating Climate Initiatives
Deltas and coastal areas around the world are facing the effects of global warming. Such effects include sea level rise, changing weather patterns, extreme weather conditions, soil subsidence and endangered biodiversity. In addition to efforts to prevent further warming (climate mitigation), societies need also to adapt to climate change (climate adaptation). This is particularly for societies with densely populated delta areas, which are also extremely important economic centres that provide jobs, infrastructure and utilities.
For Van Oord, this entails increasingly complex projects that Flooding events 1996-2016 call for an exceptional effort on the part of all concerned. Conventional hydraulic engineering measures such as dyke reinforcement and beach nourishment are still required. Additionally, we call for a more integrated approach based on advanced tailor-made solutions including the option for nature- based solutions. We are rising to the challenge by taking the lead in partnerships that focus on developing such solutions, contributing Source: PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency to a better world for future generations.
Van pushed through water in Jakarta, Indonesia Cynthia Boll | 3 Sinking cities will be a common phenomenon
Zooming in on the effects of heavy rainfall in the monsoon greatest relevance to a marine season and increasing contractor – sea level rise and urbanisation in Jakarta. hydrological events (floods) – coastal urban deltas and low- The Indonesian city is also one lying island states are most of the fastest sinking cities in vulnerable to climate change. the world. If subsidence continues at this speed, parts of The emerging economies of Asia the city could become entirely are expected to bear the largest submerged. The Indonesian burden related to sea level rise, government has introduced the but other regions, for example Jakarta National Capital the South Pacific Islands, West Integrated Coastal Development Africa, Western Europe, and the (NCICD) plan, aimed at Southeast Coast of the USA, are guaranteeing the safety of also expected to be affected millions of Jakartans during significantly by sea level rise. floods and at expanding the city’s comfortable living and The implementation of effective working environment more to 1 billion people live in flood-prone coastal and river defences is the north. Van Oord has been areas today thus crucial for the protection of tackling marine challenges in a significant share of our global Indonesia for more than a population. century. Our presence in the 1.7 billion region will be even more people live in flood-prone Climate change is aggravating valuable due to the recent areas by 2050 the problems of soil subsidence, impact of climate change.
Resident of Jakarta (Indonesia) Ibu Sarmini with her feet in the water Cynthia Boll | 4 OUR AMBITION To provide integrated and innovative marine solutions
We want to be known for providing integrated and innovative marine solutions for coastal areas and river deltas at risk. We aim to do this by being a global leader and partner in facing the challenges of climate adaptation and by simultaneously contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
United Nations Van Oord 2025: Sustainable We will contribute to Development projects intended to protect Goal 13: Climate Action the most vulnerable deltas Take urgent action to in the world. combat climate change and its impacts
In cooperation with its partners, Van Oord will actively participate in the global network for climate adaptation by demonstrating and delivering marine engineering and other expertise and by providing coastal and flood protection solutions.
River flood defence project in Borgharen, The Netherlands | 5 The challenges we are facing …
Global warming, sea level rise & extreme weather events. It’s time to act now!
CO2 emission is a major cause Staying within a remaining 2015 Paris Climate Agreement: To comply with the Paris
of global warming. carbon budget of 580 GtCO2 limit global warming Climate Agreement, renewable
implies that CO2 emissions reach well below energy would need to supply carbon neutrality 2.0°C 70% -85% in about 30 years. while aiming for of electricity by 2050 (25% today). C (IPCC, 2018) 1.5°
A global temperature rise of A global temperature rise of Extreme weather For the goals under the Paris 1.5°C by 2100 means sea levels 1.5°C also means coral reefs will events affecting Climate Agreement to remain will rise by decline by attainable, rapid global change
% % is needed. 40 cm 70 -90 35 mln people per annum
(IPCC, 2018) (IPCC, 2018) | 6 TRACK RECORD Van Oord s Track Record Van Oord’s Track Record Projects related to Accelerating climate initiatives
Projects related to Accelerating climate initiatives
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