The Delta Programme and Updated Flood Risk Management Policies in the Netherlands (PAP014368)

Código

PAP014368

Autores

Jos van Alphen

Tema

Flood risk management in mega cities

Resumo

The Delta Programme develops strategies that are aimed at protecting the Netherlands against flooding, while anticipating climate change ). The program started in 2010, as a result of the advice of the Dutch Committee on Sustainable Coastal Development (the 2nd Delta Committee) to adapt flood risk management (and fresh water supply) to climate change ). It is aimed at avoiding a disastrous flood, instead of a response after it. Such an anticipatory approach requires a multi-governance organization, integrated strategies dealing with uncertainty and adequate institutional arrangements to guarantee future proof implementation. The multi-governance approach consists of strong involvement of local and regional authorities and stakeholders in strategy development and decision making, within a framework of national coordination. The Delta Programme Commissioner supervises this process, especially regarding progress, coherence between regions, uniformity in methods, models and data. He reports to Parliament every year in September and takes the necessary steps when problems arise. The Delta Programme results in updated standards for flood protection (based on a specified tolerable individual risk), a policy-framework regarding flood-proof urban (re)development and strengthened cooperation with disaster management organisations. Key to the strategies developed is an adaptive approach, in which necessary measures for the short term (maintenance and improvement flood defences and aging infrastructure"), are framed into the long-term perspective of socio-economic developments and climate change. The multifunctional design of measures is stimulated, since this increases opportunities to combine with other agenda's and enhances societal "added value" (regarding nature, recreation or urban development) and acceptance. Promising examples are elaborated in local and regional workshops. From 2020 onwards, a Delta Fund of about 1 billion euro's per year will provide stability in financial resources, reducing dependency on economic developments and continuous political attention. The new Delta Act forms the legal basis for the implementation of the programme, the responsibilities of the Commissioner and the Delta Fund."