These last numbers are not yet ‘hard’, he says. “These are alarming, but soft conclusions, because there is still so much uncertainty about it. But the Netherlands has also asked that these kinds of conclusions be included in the summary, because they are so policy-relevant. Not only for the Netherlands, but also for other countries. that have a coastline that can’t take much in terms of sea level rise.”
Action: more space for water
According to the Union of Water Boards, the Netherlands can prepare well for a one meter rise in sea level, but if it becomes more, more measures will have to be taken. “We can handle a meter, but we should not just focus on sea level rise,” says Klavers. “The weather is also changing a lot, there will be many more periods of drought or just rainfall, so the whole picture in the Netherlands will be different.”
“This report teaches us that climate change is really happening very quickly,” emphasizes Klavers. “We are thinking of strengthening dikes, dunes, giving more space to water for when the rain comes pouring down from the sky, but also storing water for periods of drought, so that you ensure that the water is there. when you need it and it’s gone when you want it gone.”
Apart from the measures to make the country climate-proof, Klavers believes that the cause, the emission of greenhouse gases, must also be looked at.
“For the time being, we are going to make it in the Netherlands. But as water boards we believe that we should also put all the cards on the prevention of further climate change. We are also doing the necessary things ourselves. I believe that we are obliged to ensure that it does not even further off the rails.”
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