Dutch cities sign ‘City Deal’ for climate adaptation

Five Dutch cities, governmental organisations and regional water authorities jointly signed a ‘City Deal’ for climate adaptation that will work together to reinforce their approach for a climate resilient design of the urban environment and commit to building practical learning centres over the next four years.

“Working on the climate adaptation in the urban area requires specific local knowledge,” Edyta Wisniewska, Project Manager Water & Urban, Netherlands Water Partnership, one of the 16 partners who signed the deal, told Cities Today. “Each city has already started with developing knowledge and specific approaches. City Deal partners will create a practical learning environment for innovation and collaboration that helps initiate and develop climate proof and water safe projects in the cities. The agreement fits the growing belief that an integrated water and urban approach is impossible without engaging a wide range of stakeholders at an early stage.”

Signed during the conference, ‘Water safe and climate resilient building, living and life’ in Zwolle, the Netherlands, delegates heard how the world’s cities are vulnerable to climate change, facing more extreme rainfall, longer periods of wet or dry weather and an increasing frequency of heat waves.

Delta and coastal cities are being confronted with rising rivers and a rising sea level. Climate resilience and water safety are becoming increasingly important issues with regard to shaping countries, to ensure sustainable and inviting cities in the future.

As part of the City Deal, the parties will intensify their cooperation in an open learning, experimental and innovating culture, through collaboration in real working practices. The lessons learned will be shared with other parties, including educational organisations.

“Last year’s floods in Europe, (UK, Germany, Italy, Balkans), those in Southeast Asia and the impact of Hurricane Sandy along the east coast of the United States prove that ignoring climate change and climate resilient actions is not an option,” added Wisniewska. “Sea level rising and extreme weather conditions are facts, with every human being already experiencing the consequences of dirty, too much, and too little water.”

The partners that signed the City Deal include the cities of The Hague, Dordrecht, Gouda, Rotterdam and Zwolle, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, and the water boards of Drents Overijsselse Delta, Schieland and Krimpenerwaard, and Delfland. Other parties committed to cooperate are Ecoshape, Heijmans, BPD, Foundation Kennisland, Tauw, Netherlands Water Partnership and Rotterdam Centre for Resilient Delta Cities.