A National Guideline for Climate Adaptation Planning: the Climate Stress Test for Urban Areas

To make urban environments in the Netherlands climate-proof and water-robust the Delta Programme launched guidelines and tools for climate adaptation planning, including a climate stress test. This test builds on new principles and concepts, making spatial adaptation a key element of building climate resilience. The test starts with a quick-scan of the climate vulnerability of an urban area and focuses on adaptation planning for the ‘hot spots’ in the next phase. Collaborative spatial planning to retrofit attractive solutions and system analysis of the vulnerabilities and of the effectiveness of adaptation measures are intertwined in both phases of the test. Vulnerability analysis is focused on the risks due to existing and future climate related hazards as well as on the adaptability of the urban environment and on the opportunities that come with adaptation; Special attention is paid to critical infrastructure, objects and the protection of vulnerable population groups. A vulnerability analysis of the governance system can also be part of this vulnerability scan. Tools are made available for both the vulnerability analysis and for supporting the collaborative planning process. The stress test and other guidelines on www.spatialadaptation.com , though not compulsory, are used by municipalities, water authorities and their consultants, but adapted to the local conditions in each city or village. Moreover, spatial adaptation is an essential part of the multi-level water safety policy and will become a key element of the National Adaptation Strategy of the Netherlands