The enormous enthusiasm for the webinar 'How do we pay for climate adaptation?' that NextGreen gave on March 31 for the Samen Blauwgroen network showed that finding ways to implement climate-proof projects is often a challenge. More than a hundred interested parties registered. In the space of an hour, Anne-Marie Bor and Iris Hertog presented them with a wide range of ideas.

Rethinking in practice

We told our story based on projects in which NextGreen is involved. Such as the Financial Incentives Alliance, in which governments investigated how they can encourage residents and businesses to take climate adaptation measures themselves. For example, with subsidies or through partial exemption from sewerage charges and fees. This can be more cost-effective than renovating the sewer system yourself. Moreover, not all bottlenecks can be solved by interventions in public spaces. We also highlighted the role of financial institutions and real estate investors, as they too are affected by climate change. Think of insurance claims after flooding or homes that lose value due to subsidence. We worked with them to identify ways in which they can collaborate—including with governments—to move toward a climate-resilient society. The "Financing Climate Adaptation" toolbox, which NextGreen created with and for the Ministry of the Interior, brings together 30 ways to finance climate adaptation.

Getting started with concrete projects

In May, a workshop was held in Heerhugowaard, where participants got to work with this toolbox themselves. They focused on three specific projects:

• Greening of Raadhuisplein in front of the town hall in Castricum.
• The connection of a number of plots in a horticultural area in Heemskerk to a water storage facility.
• The transformation of the station area in Hoorn.

With this workshop, we wanted to show everyone involved in climate adaptation that if you look at things differently, a lot becomes possible.