Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency calls for advancing climate adaptation policies in the Netherlands

In May 2024, the Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) launched its new report Climate Risks in the Netherlands: The current state of affairs (PDF). The report highlights key climate risks already affecting the Netherlands. Developed with input from experts across various research institutes, it marks the first step in a broader climate risk analysis project aimed at guiding policy toward a climate-resilient and water-secure Netherlands by 2050. The findings make it clear that advancing climate adaptation policies in the Netherlands is essential.

The report stresses that climate adaptation cannot be considered a standalone policy but should be integrated across various sectors such as spatial planning, housing, nature conservation, and agriculture. Due to the intensive use of space in the Netherlands, climate adaptation affects numerous aspects of society and requires coordinated, overarching decisions from policymakers.  The report mentions that the complexity of climate adaptation means that solutions must go beyond short-term fixes and focus on long-term, structural changes that can help minimise the damage caused by climate risks.

In the coming years, PBL will continue to monitor and analyse climate risks. This report serves as the first step in a climate risk analysis trajectory that will guide Dutch policymakers toward a climate-resilient future. The second report, due for release in early 2026, will focus on the risks posed by future climate scenarios and provide further insight into how the Netherlands can better prepare for an uncertain climate future.