This final part has an evaluation of the outcomes and
limitations of the approaches and considers the topics of: water awareness of the general public (3), and the promise of green infrastructure (4).
3)
When it comes to awareness of
climate related risks and responsibilities, most citizens expect the government
to solve everything for them and there is no culture of disaster awareness and
mutual collaboration like in Japan, or even for individual preparation to
survive 72 hours like on the US. Despite there now being campaigns to inform people
of what to do and how to prepare, this is not taken up as a necessary action. The
OECD Studies on Water, Water Governance in the Netherlands (2014)[i]
summarizes this succinctly: “There is a striking “awareness gap” among Dutch
citizens related to key water management functions, how they are performed and
by whom. Similarly, the perception of water risks is low. Many people are not
aware of the basics about evacuation policy, the origin of the water they drink
or whether their property is built on a flood plain. This awareness gap is
largely a result of a high level of trust in government and the successful
avoidance of major flood disasters since 1953.” While there is consistent
monitoring of this awareness, there is less of a concrete approach in how to
change this awareness for the better.
|
Climate
awareness item
|
2015
|
2016
|
2020
|
2024
|
|
People concerned about climate change
|
62%
|
67%
|
|
|
|
People concerned about a large regional flood
|
23%
|
30%
|
23-25%
|
|
|
People who expect pluvial flood in the coming 10 years
|
|
|
|
67%
|
|
People who have an evacuation package ready
|
|
|
|
9%
|
|
People who have more vegetation than tiles in their garden
|
|
|
|
54%
|
Table:
Results from water awareness monitoring[ii],[iii],
[iv]
This is also the case for other
climate related hazards. The KNMI has already begun changing its heat warnings
to more understandable language and actions[v],
and there are maps available that visualize the linkage between heat stress and
potentially vulnerable older adults[vi].
The drawback is that research has shown that mere information campaigns are
insufficient and the perceptions people have regarding climate change should be
targeted[vii].
This leaves not just a knowledge gap, but also a chance to enhance
understanding and support for the finances and resources necessary to prepare
for water related disasters among the general public, especially when it comes
to what people can do in their own yard.
4)
A major policy trend in
addressing climate change impacts has been greening the urban landscapes.
Especially the inner cities have faced decades, if not hundreds of years, of
construction above and below ground for infrastructure and services, resulting in
large areas of impermeable pavement. Urban planners are eager to respond with
green and blue transformations in the form of trees, retention areas, green
walls and roofs, etc. that get most attention of their potential benefits, both
for climate adaptation and beyond. While it is true that vegetation can help
reduce local flood peaks, evaporate moisture up to 70%, and reduce
temperatures, the exact amounts are often left vague, by both policy ambitions
and quantifiable research results. The amount of irrigation required for
vegetation to optimally function and provide these benefits is often also
glossed over. As an overall beneficial impact appears to remain, the next
question centers on species. The local Dutch climate is expected to shift the
coming decades from an oceanic climate to include a humid subtropical climate.
There are guides available for
urban planners that indicate which species are more resilient for certain types
of climate stress[viii],
[ix].
Still, this means that any urban vegetation planted to help adapt to climate
change must be started to be grown in plant nurseries imminently, which brings
with it the need for long term panning and investments spatially, species wise.
The biggest challenge on the urban scale is that 50-70% of the inner urban
areas are privately owned, meaning another awareness campaign and subsidy
measures could have a large impact on how citizens can contribute to locally
reducing negative climate change impacts.
[ii]
https://klimaatadaptatienederland.nl/publish/pages/163262/ons_water_onderzoeksresultaten_waterpeil_2017_wateroverlast-waterkwaliteit.pdf
[v]
https://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/nieuws/de-ene-soort-hitte-is-de-andere-niet-daarom-is-er-nu-hittekracht
[vii] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0371-y
[ix]
https://bootendart.nl/toepassingen/#Klimaatbestendig
