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Enhancing resilience to 'waterbomb-events' through adapting spatial planning

In the aftermath of the extreme rainfall – also referred to as a ‘waterbomb-event’ – over the Ardennes (Belgium), Eiffel (Germany) and Southern Limburg (The Netherlands) in July 2021, experts found that enhancing preparedness and resilience for such extreme weather events is key.

Based on an analysis of the soil-water system of this event, several knowledge gaps were identified and recommendations were made (Deltares, 2023). This research focusses on one of these issues and addresses the need to minimize the consequences of extreme rainfall events through spatial planning.

Lock-in mechanisms

In the coming years the Dutch national government strives at building 1 million houses and several municipalities are locating these houses in areas that are at high risk of floods. It seems that the resilience of soil-water systems is not sufficiently included in the planning decision-making processes. In addition, planning decisions increasingly should be made in collaboration with stakeholders in line with the new Environment and Planning Act. Therefore, this research aims to provide insights in the lock-in mechanisms that hamper the inclusion of resilient soil-water systems in planning. We aim to assess possible solutions in close cooperation with experts from the field - both academic and professional as well as citizens whose lived environment is affected.

We build on previous international research projects on climate adaptation through co-creation, the barriers and lock-ins that make it difficult to embed adaption objectives in policies and studies about the efforts to improve the involvement of citizens in planning in the Netherlands.

Contact: Saskia Bisschops, Lisanne Groen en Angelique Lansu