About LIFE UrbanAdapt

LIFE Urban Adapt is working on:

An increased risk of flooding due to intensive rainfall and rising sea water levels.
Elevated temperatures caused by the urban heat island effect (UHI).
Damage to flora and fauna on land and in water.

ROTTERDAM

Our climate is changing. As a world port city in the Dutch delta, Rotterdam will notice the effects of this. The sea level is rising, which will eventually have consequences for the safety of our dykes. River discharges will become more extreme, increasing the risk of flooding and thus increasing the risk of casualties and (economic) damage. Very intensive rain showers will also occur more often, which the current sewer system can no longer handle and that will lead to water on the streets and other nuisances. At the same time, the chance of prolonged periods of drought and heat increases, which can affect the liveability of the city.
Rotterdam is a forerunner in the field of climate adaptation and in 2001 was the first major European city with an EU-approved climate strategy. The elaboration of this strategy is already visible in several small-scale public locations, such as the water squares.
From 2013, the Rotterdam Adaptation Strategy (RAS) will chart the course along which we will adapt to climate change. Implementation of measures in the city is progressing steadily, but in order to make great strides, climate adaptation must be integrated on a larger scale. This requires commitment not only from the municipality, but also from residents, companies and other social organisations.

EU & CLIMATE CHANGE

To protect the European economy and society from the negative effects of climate change, the EU is looking for sustainable solutions that can contribute to this. That is why the importance of urban adaptation strategies is high on the European policy agenda. Rotterdam is known as a front runner in the field of climate adaptation and was the first major European city with an established adaptation strategy. This complex process requires good cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, where mutual interests are sought and found to implement effective climate adaptation measures together. LIFE Urban Adapt wants to show the potential of this participatory approach for implementing urban climate adaptation strategies and measures. Click here for more information about the European LIFE program.

News

VIDEO: preparing for a more extreme climate

11 January 2019

More parks, water storage facilities and water squares. Rotterdam is working hard to make the city climate-proof and rainproof. This way the streets don't overflow and we don't get wet feet. Rotterdammers can also contribute to this, for example by removing a tile in the garden and replacing it with greenery. The new Deltaplan climate adaptation…

watch the video

KNOWLEDGE SHARING: Climate terms explained

November 12, 2018

When it comes to climate and climate change, the technical terms are usually flying around your head. At LIFE Urban Adapt, too, we often use words that may make you wonder: 'what does that mean exactly?' The following five common climate terms are explained on the website 010duurzamestad.nl. Greenhouse effect Mitigation Adaptation Heat island effect Resilience

KNOWLEDGE SHARING: EU considers adaptation strategy essential

November 10, 2018

Europe recognizes that adapting to the effects of climate change is now more urgent than predicted. This is one of the key findings of the Commission's 2013 review of the strategy published this week. The analysis results in a report on lessons learned and reflections on improvements for future action. LIFE…

ZOHO: Your own facade garden

September 11, 2018

Creating a facade garden is fun, the street improves and your house stays cooler in the summer. A facade garden is a strip of plants against the facade of a house. Façade gardens are especially suitable in streets where the houses do not have a front garden. A single creeper, hollyhock or sunflower makes the streetscape…

TIDES PARK: The Eel is back

11 August 2018

Nature with special plants and animals that live in and near the Nieuwe Maas and show the significance of the delta, where the river meets the sea. The effect of ebb and flow creates tidal nature along the riverbank with animals and plants that go with it. River as Tidal Park Rotterdammers want to…

VIDEO: greening and building in Nassauhaven

19 July 2018

In 2018, the first 18 floating homes (Havenlofts) in Rotterdam will be built in the former Nassauhaven harbor basin. We are also constructing a nature-friendly bank here to help the development of nature in an urban environment.