Sea Level Rise Knowledge Programme
Sea level rise has been accelerating in recent decades because of climate change and global warming. In time, there could be profound implications for the liveability and habitability of our country of our vulnerable delta.
In 2019, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Delta Programme Commissioner jointly initiated the Sea Level Rise Knowledge Programme. In this programme, government authorities, research institutes, businesses and NGOs are pursuing new knowledge about the potential rise in sea level. They are examining long-term scenarios and exploring measures to prepare for the consequences. The programme delivers expertise that can be used to make timely decisions about protective strategies and spatial planning for the Netherlands.
Results
The programme's first phase culminated in the publication of an online and easily accessible 'Interim report' in November 2023, which provides a comprehensive and clear overview of the research results relevant to understanding, and planning for, sea level rise. It answers questions like: how fast are sea levels rising and can we cope? What are the consequences for flood risk management and fresh water, and which measures are required?
The Room for Sea level Rise report, which was published in March 2024, looks at how the Netherlands can remain safe and liveable against the backdrop of sea level rise by describing conceptual perspectives (technical, physical and spatial) for the long term. It describes the shape these perspectives could take in practice.
Unfortunately, not all our research information is available in English. If you have any questions about our programme, please send an email to postbuszeespiegelstijging@minienw.nl.