Promoting and facilitating

Climate-proofing the Netherlands and embedding a climate-proof mindset in policy and working processes involves a major challenge. To achieve the goals, spatial adaptation must become a standard element of the physical activities in urban and rural areas. This requires commitment among a wide range of public and private parties. The Delta Plan on Spatial Adaptation is fostering the efforts under the “promotion and facilitation” ambition.

Administrative Agreement on Climate Adaptation

In November 2018, the Administrative Agreement on Climate Adaptation was set down. This agreement reconfirms that by the end of 2020, all the Dutch municipalities, district water boards, and provinces must have mapped out their taskings and measures in the field of climate adaptation. To this end, they are going through a process of stress tests, risk dialogues, and implementation agendas. This process enables them to select effective measures for their taskings, in order to render their environment climate-proof and water-resilient.

Support from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

To support the process of stress tests, risk dialogues, and implementation agendas, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management has allocated additional funding: a total of EUR 20 million for 2019 and 2020. This sum is intended for:

• Process support to local and regional governments in conducting stress tests and risk dialogues, and in drawing up implementation agendas.
• Pilots in the form of implementation projects.
• “Financial incentives for climate adaptation” pilots.
• Knowledge development and knowledge sharing. Knowledge is being developed via, e.g., the Climate-proof City Focus Area of the Water and Climate Knowledge and Innovation Programme (NKWK-KBS). Knowledge is being shared through such platforms as this Spatial Adaptation Knowledge Portal and via the Climate-proof Together programme.

In addition, the Administrative Agreement on Climate Adaptation sets out that the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management will prepare a financial incentive scheme in the purview of expediting the implementation of adaptation measures by local and regional governments.

Overview of ongoing incentive programme activities

The following instruments and activities will be continued under the ongoing 2015-2022 Incentive Programme:

• Knowledge sharing by Climate-proof Together platform
• Fourth round of impact projects focused on risk dialogues (sharing results)
• Climate Adaptation City Deal (sharing results)
• Spatial Adaptation Living Lab (sharing results)
• Signing the declaration of intent
• Meetings