Living Below Sea Levels: Dutch cities adapt to climate change

Takeaways:

The urgency of climate adaptation: The conference highlighted the pressing need to adapt buildings and infrastructure to mitigate climate change effects, particularly in flood-prone regions like the Netherlands.
Community engagement for sustainable development: The visit to Schoonschip underscores the importance of community engagement in creating resilient and eco-friendly neighbourhoods, showcasing the power of collaboration and innovation.
Integrated approaches to climate adaptation: The event emphasised the necessity of integrated and collaborative approaches to climate adaptation, aligning closely with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, which promote sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusivity in urban design.

On 31 May 2024, the conference “Climate Change and Climate Adaptation: Living Below Sea Levels” was held in Amsterdam. The event, organised by Vereniging Eigen Huis and the International Union of Property Owners (UIPI), brought together 45 participants, including property owners, experts, and leaders in climate change adaptation. The conference’s focus was on the unique situation of the Netherlands and its vulnerability to flooding.

The day began with welcoming words from three prominent leaders: Cindy Kremer, Director of Vereninging Eiegen Huis; Stratos Paradias, President of UIPI and POMIDA; and Kai Warnecke, Vice President of UIPI and President of Haus & Grund Deutschland.

Cindy Kremer highlighted the climate crisis facing Europe, underlining the urgent need to adapt existing and future buildings to mitigate the effects of climate change. Stratos Paradias emphasised the right to property as a fundamental human right, citing China’s 2004 legislation recognising private property rights as an example of significant progress. Kai Warnecke, for his part, hailed the absence of minimum performance standards in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) as a victory for UIPI, highlighting the importance of making buildings more resilient and ensuring that insurance is accessible to cover damage and facilitate reconstruction.

The morning continued with a series of technical keynote speeches. Judith Kasperma, Head of the Department of Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management at Deltares, spoke about adaptation to climate change in the Netherlands and research projects that have significantly contributed to water management, such as “Climate Spatial Planning” and “Knowledge for Climate.” She also mentioned current challenges, such as more river space and water storage to cope with extreme rainfall.

Geeke Feiter, Director of Verbond Van Verzekeraars, addressed the topic of climate change and insurability. She explained that climate change monitoring is not linear and flood impacts vary between regions. She highlighted that, unlike other parts of the world, in Europe, the insurance industry is actively intervening rather than withdrawing.

Simon Vrijsen, Public Affairs Advisor at Vereninging Eiegen Huis, highlighted that the renovation cost per home ranges between 60,000 and 100,000 euros, underlining the importance of making improvements that keep housing affordable for tenants and owners.

A floating, sustainable neighbourhood in the heart of Amsterdam

In the afternoon, participants visited Schoonschip, an ecologically and socially sustainable floating neighbourhood in the north of Amsterdam. Jeroen Apers, architect and resident of Schoonschip, presented the project and explained how the community came together to build it. He highlighted several innovative features, such as the efficient insulation of the houses, the use of heat pumps that extract heat from the canal water, the generation of electricity with photovoltaic solar panels, and a smart grid system that allows the exchange of electricity efficiently. In addition, all houses have green roofs and water recycling systems.

As part of the visit, attendees took part in an interactive workshop accompanied by a question and answer session, providing valuable information on the critical interests of private property owners in sustainable communities. The main areas of interest identified include:

Mobility solutions
Sharing of energy
Tree plantation
Green energy and solar panels
Water recycling and heating systems
Reduction of energy bills
Adaptation of offices in homes
Involve the community in finding solutions to share energy costs

Several strategies were suggested to encourage property owner participation in sustainable projects, such as:

Appointing neighbourhood ambassadors who show how to take action
Creating climate improvement districts to make homes more resilient
Improving communication and trust with authorities
Providing detailed information and advice on technical and financing solutions
Organising events and workshops to educate about energy efficiency
Using trusted intermediaries such as homeowners and consumer associations

The workshop highlighted the importance of education, trust and collaboration in promoting sustainable practices in building stocks and communities among property owners.

The event made it clear that adaptation to climate change is urgent and complex, especially in vulnerable regions like the Netherlands. Presentations and discussions highlighted the need for integrated and collaborative approaches to address these challenges. The visit to Schoonschip offered a tangible example of how innovation and community can work together to create sustainable solutions.

This event aligns closely with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, promoted by the Craft project, which advocates the integration of sustainability, aesthetics and inclusivity in our buildings and communities. The “Climate Change and Climate Adaptation: Living Below Sea Levels” conference demonstrated how these principles can be applied in practice, offering inspiration and role models for future initiatives across Europe.

Written by Ana Verónica Martínez, project and technical officer at the International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)