Nederweert drawing up an implementation programme to be climate-resilient by 2050

How has this implementation programme been developed?

Along with many other municipalities in the Netherlands, Nederweert has conducted a stress test and risk dialogues. One of the results of this process is the Climate Map: a comprehensive map giving an instant picture of all the vulnerabilities. Nederweert has used the outcomes of the stress test and the risk dialogues to set down its vision and its ambitions.

What is the scope of the implementation programme?

The implementation programme sets out how the municipality intends to realise its ambitions. On the basis of five issues, the implementation programme outlines the measures envisaged for Nederweert to achieve climate resilience by 2050. For most of the issues, the programme outlines the short-term goals (2020-2025) and the long-term goals (2025-2050). These are the five issues:

1. Water availability

• One of the municipal goals for the near future is to contact housing corporations in order to set down agreements on, e.g., downspout disconnection and greening during renovation projects. Nederweert is conducting “kitchen table talks” with residents of premises that are vulnerable to waterlogging. “Water on the street maps” are used to explain the issue. The municipality is also encouraging its residents to disconnect downspouts and collect rainwater.
• In the long run, Nederweert intends to, inter alia, green the roads in several villages. This will reduce the risk of waterlogging in the streets, whilst improving traffic safety. At the provincial level, the municipality will be collaborating with the district water board, the Community Health Service, and the Security Region.

2. Heat

• In the near future the municipality will coordinate its Green Structure Plan and its Climate Adaptation Plan. This means that henceforth it will plant climate-proof bushes and trees and replace existing greenery with climate-proof greenery. Nederweert is mapping out vulnerable target groups and social networks. Furthermore, it is drawing up a heat plan and expanding the green rooftop grant scheme.
• In the long run, the municipality will continue to plant climate-proof greenery. As a result, 40 per cent of the parking places will be green by 2050. Furthermore, 40 per cent of the greenery will be climate-proof.

3. Organisation

• In the near future, more money will be set aside for climate adaptation. The municipality is embedding climate adaptation in its Environmental Vision, and incorporating a climate paragraph into all the policy documents for the domains involved in plans for the public space. The sustainability coordinator interconnects sustainability and climate adaptation, and serves as the first point of contact. The results of the Climate Impact Atlas are available to the residents of the municipality; this enables Nederweert to explain its pursuit of biodiversity by planting a diverse range of trees and durable greenery.

4. Networking

• In the near future, the municipality aims to harness its social network to enthuse as many people as possible about the climate adaptation plan. For example, it will approach schools in order to inform young people. Nederweert will also appoint ambassadors to share knowledge with residents, and approach, e.g., senior citizens’ associations to inform vulnerable elderly people about heat stress.
• In the long run, Nederweert will continue to harness its social network to combat heat stress.

5. Communication and participation

The municipality acknowledges the fact that a change of behaviour among residents cannot be achieved overnight. That is why it has divided this issue into five time phases:

• Phase 0 (2020-2021): this is the preparatory phase, during which Nederweert will ensure that all the plans are ready for implementation;
• Phase 1 (2022-2028): the municipality will launch pilot projects to enthuse residents about climate adaptation;
• Phase 2 (2029-2039): further expansion of successful projects;
• Phase 3 (2039-2047): continued support and fine-tuning of projects that have been rolled out. Climate adaptation is the standard, as residents are now waking up to in their daily lives;
• Phase 4 (2047-2050): continuation of all the measures and actions that have borne fruit. All across the municipality, events and campaigns will be organised to celebrate the climate adaptation accomplishments.

How will Nederweert keep climate adaptation affordable?

The implementation programme outlines how municipal services in Nederweert will be joining forces wherever possible in order to carry out projects in an integrated manner and to capitalise on linkage opportunities. For example, with respect to plans involving road safety, the municipality will also explore climate adaptive opportunities for collecting water and greening the environment. This is efficient and keeps the costs in check. The municipality is funding the bulk of the investments from the extended sewerage charges. Here is why: the municipality uses the sewerage charges to pay for the maintenance of the sewer system. However, now that the sewer system is no longer capable of discharging all the rainwater, as a result of climate change, the municipality needs to create water collection facilities in open spaces. This costs money, which the municipality will raise through the extended sewerage charges.

Lessons to be learned

The municipality of Nederweert has learned that it is important to involve all the municipal services in climate adaptation at an early stage. Thus, everyone will become aware of the interconnection between climate adaptation and their own work. This expedites the embedding of climate adaptation in everyone’s work.

Contact person

Jac Broens
j.broens@nederweert.nl