News

Researchers analysed Dutch home insurance claims alongside very detailed wind and rain measurements to build a new way of predicting storm damage. Their model shows that ignoring rainfall can miss 5 % to 57 % of the damage when storms drop heavy rain, and that more expensive homes tend to lose a smaller share of their value. By supplying the full set of model details and confidence ranges, the study offers insurers and planners a clearer tool for estimating losses from increasingly wet winter storms.

In July 2025, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) released an updated version of its Guide to Managing Climate and Environmental Risks, replacing the 2023 edition with enhanced sector-specific best practices spanning strategy, governance, risk management, and disclosure. The revision reflects new legislative and regulatory changes, and broadens its scope to include environmental risk strategies and institutional climate commitments. The guide aligns with recommendations from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and remains targeted at insurers, pension funds, investment firms, and payment-related institutions, while explicitly excluding banks, which follow separate guidance from the European Central Bank.

A new study explores how residential climate risk labels—similar to energy labels—could help Dutch homeowners and institutions manage risks from flooding, heat, and drought. Following the 2021 Limburg floods, researchers find that while such labels could raise awareness and guide adaptation, they face major technical and equity challenges. The authors stress that clear standards and fair implementation are crucial for labels to support, rather than hinder, climate resilience.

The EU Omnibus Regulation, announced on February 26, 2025, aims to simplify sustainability rules and reduce administrative burdens for businesses by streamlining directives like the CSRD, EU Taxonomy, and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. This consolidation allows companies to focus more on actual sustainability efforts. The regulation also aims to improve the EU’s investment climate by enhancing business competitiveness and unlocking financial capacity.

In 2024, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) released its report 'Climate Risks in the Netherlands: The Current State of Affairs', which identifies key climate risks already impacting the country. Developed with input from experts across various research institutes, the report marks the beginning of a broader climate risk analysis project aimed at guiding policies toward a climate-resilient and water-secure Netherlands by 2050. PBL will continue monitoring climate risks, with a second report due in early 2026, focusing on future climate scenarios and further guidance for policymakers.