Adaptive flood risk management planning based on a comprehensive flood risk conceptualisation

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Water Resource Management

Background:

• Densely populated deltas face significant threats from sea level rise and climate change.
• Global mitigation efforts are insufficient for immediate delta protection, necessitating robust adaptation strategies.
• The Netherlands actively invests in adaptation research and planning, exemplified by the Knowledge for Climate and Delta Programme.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop adaptive delta management strategies for flood risk in vulnerable regions.
• To analyze policy transitions and assess alternative flood risk management strategies.
• To address uncertainties in long-term future developments and avoid maladaptation.

Main Methods:

• Developed a new conceptualization of flood risk reconciling flood defense and spatial planning.
• Introduced 'exposure determinants' as a concept to bridge the gap between engineers and spatial planners.
• Examined international approaches to flood risk management to identify potential Dutch biases.

Main Results:

• Explicitly distinguishing exposure determinants aids in unifying engineering and spatial planning perspectives.
• Different conceptualizations of flood risk significantly influence the framing of adaptation challenges.
• Neighboring countries offer valuable insights into alternative approaches to future flood risk challenges.

Conclusions:

• Adaptive delta management requires innovative approaches due to long-term uncertainties.
• Reconsidering flood risk principles and integrating technical measures with spatial planning is essential.
• Learning from international experiences can enhance the sustainability of Dutch flood risk adaptation strategies.