Climate Change - threat or challenge?
There seems to be consensus on the fact that the climate changes. The details, however, are heavily discussed. For instance, what part of the change is caused by human intervention and how much will the sea level rise in hundred years? Scientists of our group are highly involved in these discussions in order to contribute to the extension and dissemination of knowledge. On this page, an overview of activities is presented.
| The New Delta WorksProfessor Marcel Stive , professor in coastal engineering and member of our department, participated in the new Dutch Delta Committee that presented its report on flood protection to the Dutch government on Wednesday 3 September 2008. The new Delta Committee (its official name is "Staatscommissie voor Duurzame Kustontwikkeling", State Committee on Sustainable Coastal Development) concludes that the sea level rises more than expected until now. Therefore the Netherlands have to invest in dike improvement and sand suppletion along the coast. In total 12 main measures are proposed. Prime minister Balkenende already promised that a new law will be made to regulate the measures to be taken. The full report is available on the website of the Deltacommittee and more information can be found on http://www.waterforum.net/. An interview with prof. Stive appeared in a newspaper article in Technisch Weekblad, 13 September 2008. For background information, we prepared a page (in Dutch) with explanation and links to reports of both the first and the second Delta Committee. |
The day before the Delta Committee presented its plans to the Dutch parliament, prof. Han Vrijling, chairman of our department, expressed his concerns on the government policy of the last years. There are lots of new ideas to deal with possible floodings, but the priority should be to take care of the dikes (article in Nederlands Dagblad, 2 September and in Algemeen Dagblad, 3 September). In Reformatorisch Dagblad (8 September 2008) prof. Vrijling mentioned it a wise decision of the Delta Committee to prolongate the through past centuries proven methods, although he mentions the (rather extreme) predicted sea level rise not necessary for all measures. In newspaper Trouw, 13 September 2008, prof Vrijling is in favour of the concept of traditional polders to cope with eventual climate change; they have proven their usefulness for centuries. In an article he clarifies his comments (pdf 75 kB, in Dutch), which he also presented at the symposion of Practische Studie on 27 November 2008, (pdf 1.6 MB, in Dutch). Stichting platteland in perspectief published the comments of mr. Vrijling (pdf, 4.4 MB, in Dutch) on the advice of the Delta Committee (Spil 2008, no. 5). Also 'Civiele Techniek' (2009, nr. 1/2) published an interview with mr. Vrijling, in which he argues not to prevail the creation of 'nature' over safety measures.
The presentation of prof. Vrijling in Paradiso can be found here (in Dutch). On Sunday 10 February 2008, Han Vrijling was one of the guests in TV programme 'Buitenhof', to discuss some recent innovative ideas for water protection and gave interviews and public lectures, like in Speakers, Delft (April 2008). Delta published an article (in Dutch, 14 February 2008) about some major hydraulic engineering plans, like a tulip island and energy basins, presented by the Dutch innovation platform. Is it old wine in new bottles, or real innovation? At last some very sensible words from our government: Dutch State Secretary Huizinga shares the opinion of prof. Han Vrijling that artificial islands in the North Sea will not protect the Netherlands sufficiently against sea level rise. The only achievement of these islands will be an additional coast line that will have to be protected and maintained. (Dutch newspaper Trouw, 10 June 2008). |
|
| Wim Kanning emphasised in Waterwonen Magazine 2008-2 (pdf, article in Dutch) that the Dutch citizens should not be scared of eventual flooding damages, but a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out carefully. Flood defences that at the moment do not meet the requirements should without doubt be improved. Kanning also commented on the planned bypass near Kampen (Delta 23 april 2009, article in Dutch). Due to supposed climate change, the discharge of the Rhine river, and thus the Gelderse IJssel, will show more fluctuations. To prevent the city of Kampen to flood in case of extremely high water, a bypass has been planned. However, by creating a relatively small compartment, the number of casualtues will probably increase in case of a dike failure. After all, the water will rise more quickly if it lows into smaller areas. |
Also Wouter ter Horst, one of the founders of the Young Delta Committee, looked ahead and explained the ideas collected by the Young Delta Committee in radio programme Villa-VPRO (broadcast 2 September 2008).
