Heat, drought, coastal erosion: cabinet acknowledges climate pressure on the Caribbean
THE HAGUE – For the first time, the Dutch cabinet intends to explicitly address the social consequences for residents of the Caribbean region as part of its new climate strategy. Starting June 9, members of the public can share their views through a public consultation.
The strategy is designed to prepare the Netherlands for the effects of climate change through the year 2100. This covers not only protection against flooding, drought and heat, but also the consequences for public health, well-being, social cohesion and economic resilience. According to its authors, climate policy must do justice to “all residents of the Netherlands and the Caribbean region”.
New methodology for social impacts
The analysis was commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and carried out by the Climate Research Initiative Netherlands. For the first time, a methodology has been developed to assess in advance what social consequences climate measures may have for different groups within the population.
The researchers emphasize that climate policy does not only have technical or spatial effects, but can also give rise to disparities in health, liveability, social cohesion and economic security.
The public consultation on the draft strategy opens on June 9. The cabinet aims to adopt the final National Climate Adaptation Strategy before the end of this year.
The strategy addresses fifteen themes, including heat-resilient cities and towns, staying healthy in a changing climate, the protection of cultural heritage, climate-proof housing, robust infrastructure, and the future of drinking water and energy supplies.
Although the National Climate Adaptation Strategy formally covers the Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands, the explicit reference to the Caribbean region is noteworthy. Climate change is increasingly making itself felt on Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten as well, driven in part by rising temperatures, drought, coastal erosion and mounting pressure on water supplies.
The cabinet aims to adopt the final National Climate Adaptation Strategy before the end of this year.
