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.
[i] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/water-governance-in-the-netherlands_9789264102637-en.html#page1
[ii] https://klimaatadaptatienederland.nl/publish/pages/163262/ons_water_onderzoeksresultaten_waterpeil_2017_wateroverlast-waterkwaliteit.pdf
[iii] https://klimaatadaptatienederland.nl/publish/pages/235211/34043-waterpeil-2024-rapportage-herziene-versie.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
[viii] https://bomentabel.nl/
[ix] https://bootendart.nl/toepassingen/#Klimaatbestendig
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