Climate-resilient Netherlands: The NAS as a compass for collaboration and investments
The Netherlands faces significant challenges due to the impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves, extreme rainfall, and storms. To keep the country resilient in the face of these changes, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is working on a new National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS), set to be released in 2026. NextGreen, commissioned by the ministry, provided advice on the importance and potential role of the financial sector. This was done in consultation with policymakers, financial institutions, and their industry associations.
New opportunities for collaboration
Public-private partnerships have proven essential to accelerating and financing climate adaptation. The report, titled “Climate-Resilient Netherlands – The NAS as a Compass for Collaboration and Investments,” offers important recommendations. For example, it suggests to further elaborate sectoral goals and to strengthen collaboration with the financial sector in areas like data sharing, risk analysis, and communication.
Concrete solutions and incentives
One of the suggestions is to make greater use of financial incentives to encourage private investments in climate measures, such as sustainable mortgages for climate-resilient homes and insurance discounts for entrepreneurs. Governments could also provide more tax benefits for adaptation measures. This approach creates an ecosystem where climate adaptation becomes not only necessary but also attractive for businesses, citizens, and financial institutions.
It is also important to keep climate justice in mind, such as through establishing funds for individuals who are not able to act themselves. An example is the Sustainable Foundation Repair Fund.
Basis for further collaboration
The report builds on previous studies, such as ‘Accelerating Climate Adaptation’ published in 2023 by the Climate Adaptation Working Group Financial Sector, and aligns with recommendations from the recent “Adapting to the Climate” report by the Scientific Climate Council. Moreover, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Dutch Financial Sector Climate Commitment have already laid a solid foundation for public-private partnerships. The challenge now lies in making goals and approaches for climate adaptation concrete. The anticipated NAS is a moment to shape this.
NextGreen’s advice is based on interviews and a workshop with in total almost fifty representatives from the national government, the financial sector and from the business community. Additionally, NextGreen conducted a desk study and a country comparison.
Act now for a climate-resilient Netherlands
Time is running out, warns the report. Only through joint efforts by the government, businesses, citizens, and financial institutions can the Netherlands take the necessary steps to adapt adequately and on time to the changing climate and increasing extremes. The role of public-private collaboration and financing is deemed crucial in this regard.
The report was prepared by Bouke de Vries (independent expert), Anne-Marie Bor and Martha Bailon (NextGreen).
Want to learn more about how we facilitate this dialogue and also implement it in concrete pilots? Contact us at: info@nextgreen.nl.
