Delta Commissioner gives the go-ahead for the Spatial Adaptation Knowledge Portal
On 9 October, during the Spatial Adaptation festival in Utrecht, Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken and Pier Vellinga, Director of the Knowledge for Climate Research programme, gave the go-ahead for the Spatial Adaptation knowledge portal. The development and launch of the knowledge portal enhances the Spatial Adaptation Incentive Programme. The knowledge portal (www.ruimtelijkeadaptatie.nl) provides a great deal of topical information, along with methods and best practices in the field of climate-proof design.
Thinking together about solutions
A high-quality living environment is essential to achieving an attractive business climate and well-functioning cities. Floods and an increasing chance of heavy rainfall, dry spells and heat affect this quality. This summer, the effects of extreme rainfall were clearly visible to the citizens of the Netherlands. In order to tackle these types of problems, paying attention to water issues must become more of a matter-of-course in spatial planning. It is important that we design our country in the most climate-proof and water-robust manner. The Delta Decision on Spatial Adaptation which was presented on Prinsjesdag (the state opening of Parliament in September), encourages and commits all authorities actually to do so.
Declaration of Intent
During the festival, more than 90 parties signed a declaration of intent aimed at together ensuring that by 2050 our urban areas will be better equipped to tackle the consequences of heat, dry spells and flooding. The more than 90 signatories of the Declaration of Intent regarding spatial planning represent 10,000 companies and institutions in the Netherlands. The Delta Commissioner was impressed by the initiatives taken, and underscored the importance of his annual report on the progress of the policy agreed upon, which should result in actual implementation and action taken.
The sharing of knowledge and experience with one another marks the start of a transition towards a climate-proof and water-robust design of the Netherlands. The festival is initiated by the Spatial Adaptation sub-programme of the Delta Programme.
Peilstok
During the festival, information was provided on 16 projects involved in the Peilstok (sounding rod). This is an award for completed or nearly completed projects aimed at making the Netherlands climate-proof and water-robust. The nominations will be announced during the Delta Conference on 6 November. The Peilstok award will be presented on 28 November during the national event entitled Hitte in de delta – opdrachtgeverschap en ontwerp in een veranderend klimaat (Heat in the Delta – Commissioning and Design in a Changing Climate). The Delta Commissioner will also attend this event.