Benchmark for Green Climate Adaptive Built Environment

The Netherlands is increasingly being faced with severe downpours, prolonged drought, and extreme heat. To protect ourselves from the impact of these issues, we need to adapt our environment. This also means that we need to change our construction methods. The Benchmark for Green Climate Adaptive Built Environment clarifies what climate adaptive construction and planning entails.

For whom?

The benchmark provides guidelines for governments, housing corporations, and such construction sector parties as project developers.

How can the document be used?

The benchmark is necessary to being better prepared for the consequences of climate change. Thus, we can continue to live and work in a safe, healthy, and green environment, now and in the future. The benchmark clarifies what climate adaptive construction entails. The tool sets out goals and performance requirements, and provides guidelines for the issues of waterlogging, drought, heat, biodiversity, soil subsidence, and flood impact reduction. As the benchmark does not prescribe any specific measures, it leaves room for local customization, giving free rein to innovative and smart solutions.

Who has developed this benchmark?

The benchmark has been developed by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations; the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality, in collaboration with the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO), and the Association of Dutch Regional Water Authorities (UvW). A wide range of stakeholders were involved in its development, including experts in the field of climate adaptive construction, construction sector professionals, nature organisations, and knowledge institutes.

Date of publication

23 March 2023