To prepare the 2 Seas Region for the emerging trend in Climate Change (Polder2C's)

Description:

Climate change is affecting countries in the 2 Seas area (coastal regions of Southern North Sea and the Channel area) faster and more extreme than previously expected. The common challenge is to proactively prepare all 2 Seas stakeholders to climate change challenges. They need to embed the potential impact of flooding in their plans, on a strategic, tactical and operational level. The biggest challenge is that stakeholders do not know exactly how strong the flood defences are and how well emergency response is organized in practice. Another challenge is to raise awareness among the general public and stakeholders that no guarantee can be given for a full-proof flood defence. Stakeholders in the 2 Seas countries need to test the viability of current and future proof flood resilience and emergency response approaches in practice.

The depoldering of the Hedwige and Prosper polders (between Belgium and the Netherlands) offers a unique 6 km² living laboratory for the validation of flood protection and emergency measures.

The aim of the project is to improve the adaptability of the 2 Seas area to climate change by means of increasing flood resistance, and response to emergency situations. The project aims to function as a facilitator for the development of appropriate climate-response strategies and knowledge sharing. It offers practical advice for strategies, and organisational and operational plans by:

• Improving the practical knowledge base: testing, validating and demonstrating how flood barriers work, and techniques and methods to address emergency measures.
• Offering a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Training water professionals.
• Improving collaboration between relevant stakeholders.
• Making the best use of the unique opportunity that the Hedwige and Prosper polders offer.

 

Project information

Lead

Foundation for Applied Water Research STOWA, The Netherlands

Partners

Mobility and Public Works Department, Belgium

University of Lille, France

South West Water, United kingdom

Environment Agency, United Kingdom

Delft University of technology, Netherlands

Province of Zeeland , Netherlands

Ministry of Defence, Netherlands

KU Leuven University, Belgium

ISL Ingénierie, France

HZ University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands

Centre d'Etudes et d'Expertise sur les risques, l'Environnement,la Mobilité et l'Aménagement, France

Ministry of Infrastructures and Water management – The Netherlands

Source of funding

Interreg 2 Seas