Attention on the Knowledge for Climate programme at the “National Adaptation Strategy” symposium
On Tuesday, 24 March, Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken addressed the “With Climate Knowledge towards the National Adaptation Strategy” symposium. This symposium marked the completion of the Knowledge for Climate research programme and the start of the development stage of the new National Adaptation Strategy (NAS).
Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) presented the results of three studies commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment for the purpose of the NAS. In his presentation, the Delta Commissioner focused on the important contribution that Knowledge for Climate is making to the Delta Programme.
‘Adaptation is one of the cornerstones of the Delta Programme. For that reason, the collaboration with Knowledge for Climate has been intensive and of important relevance to the Delta Programme,’ Wim Kuijken commented.
The Delta Programme, comprising a proposal for measures involving an investment of 20 billion euros, requires excellent underpinning in terms of content. The Delta Programme is a knowledge-intensive programme for good reason. The Knowledge for Climate studies have provided a significant proportion of its content, even though this is not always apparent. The scientific review of the Delta Decisions, and preferred strategies, has shown the underpinning to be up to par.
The challenges we are facing in the Delta Programme demand integrated solutions. And those solutions cannot be achieved on the basis of sector-oriented research programmes.
Wim Kuijken: ‘It is important for us to weave this message into the Top Sector policy. The Top Sectors can provide significant added value in this respect by allocating a greater proportion of the budget to cross-sectoral themes. Of importance to the Delta Programme, of importance to the new National Adaptation Strategy, of importance to our country as a whole – both with respect to our own actions and with respect to our consulting activities abroad. It is imperative that we address this issue in the Science Agenda to be finalised by the end of 2015. The Science Memorandum offers sufficient points for departure in this regard. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and the researchers for their excellent work. I wish those who are drafting the new NAS lots of inspiration and success!’