2009 is the year of ‘NY400’, a celebration in commemoration of 400 years of friendship between the Netherlands and New York. Dutch and American environmental and water management professionals seized this opportunity to join forces in tackling the challenges the 21st century presents to American and Dutch delta areas. The issues discussed at the special ‘H2O9 Forum: Water Challenges for Coastal Cities’ included the climate approach of the City of Rotterdam. During ‘H209’, which took place on 9 and 10 September, top officials from Rotterdam and New York shared their visions on the water management issues both cities need to confront. The focus of attention in this respect was the tension created in urban delta areas. These are becoming ever more densely populated due to their economic development. At the same time they experience an increasing need to anticipate the consequences of climate change.
Two cities, one goal
Like New York City, Rotterdam also has a climate adaptation programme in place: Rotterdam Climate Proof (RCP). The Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, explained his city’s ‘new water management approach’ during the conference in the Liberty Science Center. The Climate Director of the City of Rotterdam, Paula Verhoeven, supported the Mayor during various presentations on the city’s innovative water management approach. Arnoud Molenaar, the RCP Programme Manager, participated in the round table meetings and discussions addressing the opportunities that climate change can offer Rotterdam and New York.
Expansion of partnerships and collaborative arrangements
In addition to top officials from the political arena, the conference was attended by professionals from the water sector such as DHV, Arcadis, and Fugro. H209 offered an ideal platform to intensify their transatlantic cooperation and expand into the Hudson Valley. At an earlier stage, experts from Rotterdam had already collaborated closely with colleagues in New Orleans and San Francisco. New York forms an ideal expansion to the existing and highly successful collaborative arrangements through the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) in Louisiana, California, and Florida.
Connecting Delta Cities
During the conference, Jeroen Aerts, Professor of Climate and Water Management Risks at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, presented his book entitled ‘Connecting Delta Cities’. The book describes how large port cities such as Rotterdam, New York, and Jakarta adapt to climate change. An active approach to climate change appears to be an effective way to structure cities in a different, yet affordable manner, making them safer and at the same time preserving the quality of living and working conditions.
Aerts’ study also formed the basis for the ‘Connecting Delta Cities’ initiative, a Rotterdam initiative in which large delta cities from all over the world collaborate to prepare for the consequences of climate change.
Source: http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/rcp_nieuwsbrief/?xzine_id=94&article_id=332