Government of Flanders reaches agreement on Climate Adaptation Plan 2030

On Friday 7 October 2022 the Government of Flanders reached an agreement on the Climate Adaptation Plan 2030. 

The Government’s climate policy is aimed at mitigating the climate crisis by reducing carbon emissions and by adapting to the anticipated effects of climate change. The newly agreed Climate Adaptation Plan focuses on the latter, i.e. how to adapt to the anticipated effects of climate change. It outlines a long-term vision on how to become a climate-resilient society, fully prepared for the unavoidable impact of climate change by 2030 and 2050. 

This newsflash takes a look at the Climate Adaptation Plan and draws on some of its key points.

Six strategies, fourteen action policies

The Climate Adaptation Plan identifies six strategies (identified by ‘S’ followed by the sequence number) subdivided into fourteen action policies (identified by ‘A’ followed by the sequence number) that are essential to become climate-resilient by 2050. The purpose of these is to support and facilitate the implementation of the Climate Adaptation Plan. In short, the strategies and action policies include:

1. Green and blue infrastructure [S1]

The first strategy of the Climate Adaptation Plan is to build and connect a green and blue infrastructure throughout Flanders. The Climate Adaptation Plan identifies three action policies in relation to this strategy.

The first action policy [A1] calls for a metamorphosis of paved, impervious areas as these are more significantly affected by climate changes. There is also a need to substantially increase the number of water bodies and natural green areas, as well as to put a stop to the construction of paved areas or even to reduce their size. 

The second action policy [A2] is to screen all infrastructure administered by the Flemish government for climate sensitivity. It will then be important to make the selected infrastructure climate resilient as this sets an example for new projects.

The third action policy [A3] is to facilitate climate resilient projects through a new environmental permit procedure.

2. Water availability and water usage [S2]

The second strategy of the Climate Adaptation Plan is to implement risk management plans on water scarcity and drought. This strategy consists of one action plan, the reduction of water consumption [A4].  This action plan aims to balance the supply and demand of water and mitigate the negative effects of drought. The strategy includes making strategic plans for water supply and circular water usage.

3. Create space for water [S3] 

The Climate Adaptation Plan identifies both flooding and more persistent heatwaves as the effects of climate change. Therefore, the third strategy of the Climate Adaptation Plan highlights the necessity to create space where water can infiltrate the soil and be stored. This water can subsequently be used to tackle drought periods. The Climate Adaptation Plan identifies three action policies in relation to this strategy.

The first action policy [A5] that supports this strategy is to reduce land use and safeguard open spaces. 

The second action policy [A6] is focused on high-risk areas. This action policy aims to reduce paved areas, to reallocate signal areas (‘signaalgebieden’) and other high-risk areas, to foster an optimal use of valley areas and to acquire poorly located, urban areas to demolish. 

Finally, the third action policy [A7] that supports this strategy is to execute water management plans, to restore the hydromorphology of watercourses and to tackle erosion issues.

4. Restoration and climate resilient management of nature, forests and open spaces [S4]

The fourth strategy of the Climate Adaptation Plan is to implement the restoration and climate resilient management of nature, forests and open spaces. The Climate Adaptation Plan identifies two action policies in relation to this strategy.

The first action policy [A8] that supports this strategy includes: (i) drafting and executing a hydrological restoration programme for valleys and natural wetlands, (ii) improving the quality of coastal dunes, (iii) expanding forest surfaces and (iv) integrating climate resilient or adaptive management strategies into the management of different green and blue areas.

The second action policy [A9] that supports this strategy is to implement climate intelligent agriculture. This should ensure crop yields, soil quality conservation and provide adequate protection against the effects of climate change such as new diseases, storms, droughts, flooding and heat stress.

5. Health Policy [S5]

An adequate health policy is essential to tackle climate change. Therefore, the fifth strategy of the Climate Adaptation plan is to make the current health system climate resilient. The action policy [A10] that supports this strategy aims to identify all climate related health changes, to anticipate climate related vectors and disorders and to prevent damage and risk.

6. Collaboration and coordination [S6]

The last strategy of the Climate Adaptation Plan is to collaborate and coordinate with Flemish, Federal and European public authorities on climate adaptation measures. The Climate Adaptation Plan lists the following four action policies: 

1.  Implementing sector-wide knowledge sharing [A11]; 

2. Organising emergency coordination [A12]; 

3. Subscribing to the European Adaptation Strategy [A13] and; 

4. Monitoring the climate resilience capability of Flanders [A14].

These four action policies focus on information exchange and monitoring, which is considered primordial for a climate-proof Flanders according to the Climate Adaptation Plan.