Adaptation Strategies and Measures

To avoid negative impacts from climate change and to reduce the vulnerability regions or countries have to adapt to climate change. Deltares can help policy makers by providing coordinated strategies and good quantitative information. Straightforward approaches and solid information are essential as the time horizons are remote and the benefits are not always visible. At the same time, there are large uncertainties to be dealt with, which imply risks for over or under investments.

Research and advice

We advise authorities on the design of strategies and have the tools to evaluate different options. We consider issues like: dealing with uncertainty, costs and benefits of the measures, technical skill required to implement them, and possible barriers for implementation. In our innovation programs we have developed various promising measures.

Guidelines for design and criteria for evaluation

In decision making and planning for a remote and uncertain future it is essential to move forward without making choices one may later on regret. Deltares offers a conceptual approach and guidelines to choose either robust strategies, which are valid for a range of possible climate scenario’s or flexible strategies, in which adaptation to climate takes place in adjustable steps. We have experience in constructing pathways for adaptation in close cooperation with stakeholders. Deltares is involved in making frameworks for evaluation of adaptation strategies.

Adaptation Measures

Deltares has a long lasting experience in testing, analyzing and designing various measures for water management. Development of innovative solutions is part of our mission. Innovative adaptation measures like Deltadikes, Megaterps and climate buffers are investigated and in business cases with third parties brought further to implementation.

Download

Sustainable water management under climte change (pdf)
Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation (pdf)
Adapating to Sea level rise in the Netherlands (pdf)