About the region

The Green Metropolitan Region of Arnhem-Nijmegen is a partnership of 178 municipalities in centre-east of Netherlands that has a population of more than 75800 000 people.

Main climate risks

floods

River floods are not a new threat to this region, and one of the most significant flood events in Nijmegen occurred in 1995. However, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity of floods. Climate projections indicate that there will be increased winter precipitation while summers are expected to become drier. More frequent and intense instances of heavy rainfall are projected, suggesting higher occurrence of flood events [1].

heatwaves

The region’s mean annual temperature has risen by 2.3°C (1901–2020), with further increases of 1.3–5°C projected by the end of the century [2]. Increasing temperatures are causing heatwaves and increasing demand for cooling. Urban areas are especially prone and face intensified heat waves because of the heat island effect [3]. Vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and individuals with chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular, respiratory-, renal-, mental-, and nervous system diseases, are at heightened risk during heatwaves [4].

Focus during Pathways2Resilience

Arnhem-Nijmegen highlights that as part of their engagement with P2R they seek to find new or alternative funding structures and create more cross-sectoral measures instead of projects where specific funding and measures are tied together. Here a target is to create financing programmes with a more long-term focus, and more public-private collaboration. An avenue to do so will potentially be through a higher extent of local corporation between municipalities on both projects and funding.

Regional Resilience Journey

Arnhem-Nijmegen has medium readiness for all 3 RRJ steps.

Arnhem-Nijmegen has the highest capacities in knowledge and data, followed by Governance, Engagement and Collaboration.

Key community systems priority areas

  • water-management

  • infrastructure

Key enabling conditions priority areas

  • experimentation-learning-adjustment

  • governance-engagement-collaboration

  • finances-resources

References

[1] –

Olsthoorn, A. A., and R. S. J. Tol. “Floods, Flood Management and Climate Change in the Netherlands.” Report. IVM Report. Dept. of Economics and Technology.2001.

[2] –

IEA. “Netherlands Climate Resilience Policy Indicator – Analysis - IEA,”. June 10, 2022.

[3] –

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. “Demonstrating heat stress in European cities”. Last Accessed 29 October 2024.

[4] –

Kollanus, Virpi, Pekka Tiittanen, and Timo Lanki. “Mortality Risk Related to Heatwaves in Finland – Factors Affecting Vulnerability.” Environmental Research 201: 111503. October 2021.