‘Celebrate Diversity’, a basic principle for robustness and resilience in nature, has inspired me ever since I got acquainted with the third design principle of Cradle2Cradle during the guidance of the Learning Community C2C in 2010. My current work in the field of biodiversity teaches me about the importance of the diversity of genes and species, and how to reinforce this by connecting areas in order for populations to become more robust due to a bigger gene pool. This ecological principle invites us to celebrate the diversity of perspectives and ideas. Together they make a sustainable transition stronger, as was also confirmed by a recent Workshop Transition perspectives (in Dutch).

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The impact project ‘Rainwater, tax or reward‘ (Hemelwater belasten of belonen) by the work stream Differentiating Taxes of the Green Deal Green Roofs has developed into the new ‘Alliance financial incentives for climate adaptation’ (Alliantie financiële prikkels voor klimaatadaptatie). This alliance is working together with new partners, in association with the Delta Plan on Spatial Adaptation. The Alliance aims to stimulate citizens and companies to (re)arrange their buildings and gardens in a climate adaptive way and focuses on learning through pilots. This way they seek to further develop these incentives together.

To further research and develop the essential effects of the different financial incentives, the Alliance will carry out pilots with corresponding cross-sectioned working groups. These working groups will engage in collective research subjects and will, if necessary, conduct their own research.

For the period 2019-2020 local authorities have the possibility to receive a financial contribution (Dutch) from the Government to hire expertise to carry out the pilots ‘financial incentives’ (financiële prikkels).

On the 6th of June the Alliance meets up to accentuate the pilots and together define the agenda for the different working groups. Local authorities who are interested can apply by sending an e-mail to info@nextgreen.nl.

The Alliance Financial Incentives for Climate Adaption was preceded by:

• Impact project ‘Hemelwater belasten of belonen’ (Rainwater, tax or reward) (2016) (Dutch)
• Inventory ‘Financiële prikkels voor klimaatadaptatie’ (Financial incentives for climate adaptation) (2018) (Dutch)
• Flyer ‘Financiële prikkels voor klimaatadaptatie op privaat terrein’ (Financial incentives for climate adaptation on private property) (2018) (Dutch)
• Feasibility study ‘Pilots voor financiële prikkels’ (Pilots for financial incentives) (2019) (Dutch)

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• About greening taxes

Due to popular demand an English version of the in September published fact sheet ‘Facts&Values Groenblauwe daken’ is now available; fact sheet ‘Facts and Values Green-Blue Roofs’. On the fact sheet you’ll find, among other things, measurable effects on retaining water, the air-purifying function, the energy saving and the noise reduction of green roofs.

Green Deal partners use the fact sheet with info graphic to explain clearly to customers and other interested parties the quantitative benefits of green roofs. NextGreen guided the work stream Facts and Values that put together the fact sheet.

• The fact sheet and a list of the used references can be downloaded online and may be shared!
• Read more about Green Deal Green Roofs

To better integrate biodiversity – the basis of all life – into investment decisions by financial institutions, the European Commission started in 2017 with the Community of Practice Finance@Biodiversity. Check out the results of the Community of Practice in the new flyer ‘Footprinting, Positive Impact and Roadmap for Biodiversity Investment’.

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