Anticipate climate change in spatial choices
Advancing climate change means that it is less and less likely that water managers in the Netherlands will always be able to guarantee the conditions needed for living, working and recreation in every part of our country. Ever greater efforts will be needed to ensure the water management conditions required for today's land use. In some areas and for some activities, the limits of what is still possible are coming into focus. The government wants water and soil to play a more guiding role in spatial policy in the Netherlands, but not enough progress is currently being made. Over time, this could lead to very high costs. In this advisory report we make 10 recommendations, divided into four solution approaches, to help the government effectively promote climate-resilient spatial planning.
Four solution approaches
1) Ensure that spatial choices by both government and society take into account the effects of climate change as much as possible
The Rli advises central government and the water boards to use a 'water calendar' to systematically identify the effects of climate change for water safety, flooding and freshwater supply, and to communicate this in a timely and accessible manner to businesses, citizens, municipalities and provinces. This will ensure that society knows what water management conditions it can reasonably expect, until when, and what uncertainties exist thereafter. The water calendar can be taken into account in the use of space and associated decision-making on investments and other matters.
2) Make flexibility the new norm for spatial planning
Climate-resilient spatial planning calls for greater flexibility of the use of space in the Netherlands. Space needed in the near or distant future for marine-engineering works (such as dyke reinforcements and water storage) should be able to be used temporarily for other spatial requirements, such as energy generation, nature development and even housing. In addition, the use of space must be adaptable in the future if current water management conditions are no longer achievable at reasonable effort and cost in a few years or decades. This calls for the development of new forms of temporary use of space.
3) Strengthen the toolkit for climate-resilient and flexible spatial choices by government and society
Costs that will arise in the long term as a result of climate change should be more explicitly taken into account in investment decisions by government and parties in society. Adopting a lifetime approach means that the costs of climate adaptation can be taken into account as effectively as possible in the financial assessment. Water interests should also be consistently taken into consideration at an earlier stage and at a higher level (national and provincial) when spatial decisions are made.
4) Make timely decisions on major system choices and their spatial impact
Climate change necessitates fundamental decisions on issues such as the discharge distribution of the Rhine tributaries, an open or closed Rhine estuary, river water storage in the Southwest Delta or the construction of a coastal lake. These decisions will have a major impact on the future spatial planning of the Netherlands. However, preparation and realisation will take several decades. The Rli therefore advises the government to draw up a programme to ensure these decisions are taken in good time.
Read the press release 'Anticipate climate change in spatial choices' Anticipate climate change in spatial choices
Read more about the advisory report on 'Spatial planning in a changing climate' Spatial planning in a changing climate Council for the Environment and Infrastructure
View the infographic showing the solution approaches and recommendations from the advisory report RLI Infographics
For more information about the advisory report or to comment, please contact the project leader, Luc Boot, at luc.boot@rli.nl, or on +31 (0)6 10577495.