Delta Decision on Spatial Adaptation

What is the Delta Decision on Spatial Adaptation?

In 2015, the Netherlands set down the Delta Decision on Spatial Adaptation, outlining the collective ambition of the national government, provinces, municipalities and district water boards to render the Netherlands climate proof and water resilient by 2050. For example, new spatial developments must not entail further risks related to extreme weather and flooding. Also, the existing space must be managed and maintained in a manner that reduces the probability of damage and casualties. This Delta Decision on Spatial Adaptation is part of the Delta Programme.

What is the Delta Programme?

The Delta Programme comprises the government plans to protect the Netherlands against future flooding from the sea and from rivers, and to continue to ensure a sufficient supply of freshwater. In addition, it contains plans for the spatial planning of all the cities, towns, villages, and rural areas in order to ensure that the Netherlands is prepared for the consequences of increasing heat, drought, and extreme precipitation. The Delta Programme comprises three plans: the Delta Plan for Flood Risk Management, the Freshwater Delta Plan, and the Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation.

Why has the Delta Decision been reviewed?

As reality continues to change and new insights continue to arise, in 2015 the government also agreed to have the Delta Decision reviewed every six years. The National Delta Programme 2021 reports on the first review of the Delta Decision, in which the Delta Programme Commissioner presents proposals for the adjustment of the Delta Decision. The proposed amendments can be found on page 69 of Delta Programme 2021.

What are the main proposals ensuing from the first review?

One of the main proposals ensuing from the first review is to formulate interim goals. Such interim goals are:

1. With effect from 2020, climate-proof and water-resilient planning must be a standard element of all the policies and actions of the national government, the provinces, municipalities and district water boards.
2. All the authorities must analyse the vulnerability of their own areas by conducting a stress test. They will discuss the results of the stress test with other stakeholders in a risk dialogue. Subsequently, they will collectively draw up an adaptation strategy featuring specific goals. To ensure that such goals are achieved, they will also set down an implementation agenda.
3. Climate-proof and water-resilient planning must become standard practice in all spatial planning efforts. By no later than 2022, the provinces must have embedded this practice in their provincial environmental visions. Municipalities must do so by 2024.
4. At the end of 2021, the national government had stress tests conducted for national vital and vulnerable functions. At the end of 2023, it formulated and set down a relevant realistic ambition.

In addition, the review comprises the following proposals:

• The Delta Decision will specify the exact definitions of “climate proof” and “water resilient”.
• All the governments will do their utmost to realise the ambitions on the basis of their own responsibilities, powers, and options.
• The authorities will promote and facilitate climate adaptation by collectively developing and sharing knowledge. They will collaborate at the local, regional, national, and international levels, and capitalise on linkage opportunities.
• In collaboration with the providers and managers of vital and vulnerable infrastructure, the authorities will ensure that by 2050, such functions will be more resilient against flooding. Vital and vulnerable functions must also resist the impact of waterlogging, heat, and drought. Thus, we will prevent extreme weather from disrupting society.
• The authorities know what action to take in the event of calamities.
• The authorities will continue to review the Delta Decision every six years. This enables them to evaluate the progress made and to adjust its implementation or the strategy wherever necessary.