NextGreen conducted a study commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to examine the potential role of the financial sector within the National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS). 

Client European Commission (DG Environment)
Duration 2025

NextGreen conducted a study commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to examine the potential role of the financial sector within the National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS).

Context

The Netherlands faces major challenges due to the effects of climate change, such as heat waves, extreme rainfall, and storms. To ensure the country remains resilient in the face of these changes, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is working on an update to the National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS), which is scheduled for release in 2026.

Key economic sectors such as the built environment, agriculture, industry, and transportation are already being significantly impacted by these changes. The financial sector invests in, finances, and insures all of these sectors and considers it vital that they remain insurable and financeable in the future. That is why the sector wants to actively contribute to making Dutch society climate-resilient.

Objective

Identifying areas of overlap between the National Adaptation Strategy and the financial sector, as well as opportunities for mutual reinforcement.

• Identifying adaptation strategies and areas of overlap with the financial sector in other countries.
• Analysis of common ground with the 15 Dutch challenges, including heat, flooding, working landscapes, nature, agriculture, new construction, and housing.
• Develop concrete solutions and incentives for investments in climate measures.

Process approach

To prepare this report, we conducted a desk study and compared approaches in various countries. In addition, we held 12 interviews with the project leaders from the relevant ministries. We reviewed the preliminary findings during a working session with the interviewees and explored them in greater depth in smaller groups.

This approach was chosen to develop concrete recommendations from various perspectives and to strengthen public-private partnerships in the field of climate adaptation. It allows for the development of a common language and fosters mutual understanding of each other’s working methods.

Services and activities

Discussions with the organization | Interviews with stakeholders | Exploratory workshop | Producing publications