This National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS) is a national Strategy with a multi-sectoral approach and its timeframe is ten years. The main objectives of the Strategy are: a) increase awareness of the necessity of climate adaptation; b) encourage the implementation of climate adaptation measures; d) develop and exploit the knowledge base; e) address urgent climate risks; f) embed climate adaptation within policy and legislation; g) monitor the progress and effectiveness of the adaptation strategy.
The Strategy sets out that mitigation will be ensured by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases to ensure that the increase in average temperatures remains limited and will take measures to also ensure adaptation to climate change. Different stakeholders such as government agencies, NGO s, private sector and individuals; will be included not only to the decision making but also the implementation of the NAS. a digital workspace for the NAS will be created by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment which will consist updated data and real-time information. Promotion will be done regarding cooperation by means of financial support to parties which currently have insufficient capacity. A set of objective performance indicators will be developed to ensure that the concept of climate-adaptive action is operationalized in a fully measurable way. Climate-adaptive action will be encouraged in all sectors. An effective digital working environment will be created for all the parties to contribute and share their knowledge as part of an online community regarding climate change. The government will contribute to the shared task of climate adaptation by examining the climate status of government buildings. Regarding public health in times of heat stress the Strategy further sets forth several measures to be taken by different public authorities and states that the municipalities will produce local heat plans which consider the position of vulnerable people in the community. Provincial authorities, municipalities and private stakeholders will also implement (spatial) measures to prevent urban heat islands. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will provide public information about the risks of exposure to ultraviolet radiation and will advise on lifestyle choices. Rail and road infrastructure will be renewed to be more prepared to floods. Study will be done to develop a climate-proof regional water management. Agricultural land management will be extended to include activities which support climate adaptation. The possibility of including climate adaptation measures in the Common Agricultural Policy will be examined. Study will be done to avoid crop damage. Climate adaptation will be covered by regional environmental policy documents and government investment programs. Capacity building will be done in the public sector. Supplementary or new legislation will be developed and entered into force. A separate plan and monitoring system will be formulated for the Caribbean Netherlands. The Strategy further sets forth several different action plans to be taken during the ten years foreseen by the Strategy. Some of these actions to be taken are: a) urban transformation will be based on climate-proof design; b) a smart design approach will be adopted to develop green cities; c) consideration will be given to the maintenance of essential functions in a disaster management situation; d) agriculture, nature and water will be associated in projects and during implementation of policies; e) solutions will be developed against the heat stress in animal sheds f) food safety will be ensured.
Several different public institutions will be responsible from the Implementation of this Strategy. These are: a)Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment which will function as the coordinator; b) Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; c) Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; d) Ministry of Economic Affairs.