Stress test for the island of Goeree-Overflakkee
With a view to its intention to prepare for the impact of climate change, the municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee has conducted a stress test in collaboration with the province of Zuid-Holland and the Hollandse Delta district water board. Among other things, the stress test has demonstrated that climate change may have a considerable impact on the leisure and agriculture sectors, but also in terms of drinking water quality and flood risk management.
Stress test: an initial outline
Staff of the parties involved have outlined the stress test in several working sessions. To this end, they have used maps provided by these parties and information on climate change provided by bodies such as the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute KNMI, the Zuid-Holland climate atlas, and the Climate Impact Atlas. The working sessions addressed questions such as:
- How has the island developed into its current state?
- What are the characteristics of the current climate, and what will change as a result of climate change?
- What opportunities can be identified?
- Who are the relevant stakeholders?
- How can the step from stress test to strategy best be substantiated?
The findings of the working sessions have been set down in the Stresstest Goeree Overflakkee. Het klimaat in beeld op ons eiland report (in Dutch) (pdf, 13 MB). The stress test reviews eight climate trends:
- Increase in flood risk from rivers and the ocean;
- Increasing heat;
- Increasing drought;
- Changes in wind direction;
- Increase in extreme precipitation during summer;
- Increase in precipitation during winter;
- Changes in groundwater levels;
- Soil subsidence.
Opportunities and threats
The stress test shows a wide range of climate effects. A total of sixteen effects have been identified, such as the risk of dune fires caused by drought and diminishing water quality at drinking water inlets as a result of salinisation. The map (png, 3.5 MB) below summarises the effects that pose a threat.
In addition to these threats, the working sessions have also identified opportunities, such as improving the living environment, enhancing social contact, and generating new income. For example, rising temperatures can further expand tourism. Other opportunities involve new crops, new types of nature, and biomass production. The image (png, 7.8 MB) below gives an impression of the opportunities identified.
The stress test has not yet provided a full picture of the potential effects. It presents an initial indication of the vulnerabilities and opportunities, based on the information available among the organisations. The outcomes will be validated and supplemented in the follow-up process, by entering into a dialogue with other parties.
Risk dialogue
The outcomes of the stress test will serve as the basis for initiating a risk dialogue. Interviews will be conducted with a range of stakeholders, and information sessions will be held for residents in order to determine the “gravity” of the risks. The dialogue will likely be conducted at the neighbourhood level in order to be able to include neighbourhood-specific information.
Towards a Strategy
In order to develop a well-supported strategy, the stakeholders will first be mapped out, as will the roles that are important to the development and implementation of the strategy. Five roles for individuals and organisations are regarded as significant in the development of the strategy:
- Drawing up the strategy;
- Supplying occasional information;
- Being structurally involved in a feedback group;
- Setting down the strategy;
- Being informed once the strategy has been adopted.
The report outlines an initial overview of organisations that are committed to specific roles.
Lessons to be learned from the project
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Having the stress test conducted in collaboration with a comprehensive group of officials in several working sessions turned out to be positive. The involvement of officials from different policy fields has created an overall sense of urgency within the government bodies.
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Having a single government organisation bear both official and administrative responsibility for the entire island of Goeree-Overflakkee works well. Together with the province and the district water board, this organisation constitutes a single collaborative unit, which makes it easy to expend concerted efforts in the purview of larger areas.
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Because of the stress test, climate adaptation is now also addressed as a key focus area within regional environmental visions. The topic is considered under the Environment Act.
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The drought during the summer of 2018 has been a good drought test.
Contact person
Jos ‘t Mannetje
Gemeente Goeree-Overflakkee
j.tmannetje@goeree-overflakkee.nl
140187