Climate-proof by 2050

The Netherlands: climate-proof by 2050. This is the ambition agreed by the central government, provinces, municipalities and water authorities. Realising it is easier said than done. After all, which measures will ultimately be the most effective? What steps need to be taken now to achieve this? And what about the costs and benefits?

Making informed decisions

The work of the Climate Resilient City research group offers practical insights that enable policymakers, businesses, and residents to make informed decisions. For example, the group develops guidelines for the development of green spaces and road-water harvesting, as well as designing neighbourhoods and homes that can withstand future scenarios like extreme rainfall, heat, drought, and rising sea levels. These designs also address broader societal challenges, including biodiversity preservation and urban densification.

Jeroen Kluck, Professor of Climate Resilient City

Jeroen Kluck, Professor of Climate Resilient City since 2008, studied Civil Engineering at Delft University of Technology. There he also obtained his PhD, in 1997, for his study of flow and sedimentation in storage and settlement basins. “I find it important that the research we do is translated into solutions that benefit society,” says Kluck.

Ed Melet, Associate professor of Circular Building

As an Associate professor in the Climate Resilient City research group, Ed Melet works in the Circular Building research line. Ed and his team conduct applied research on accelerating the circular transition in the built environment, focusing on three core themes: biobased and regenerative design and construction; high-quality reuse of building materials; and designing long-life buildings.

Connecting education and research

The Climate Resilient City research group fully involves students in research, for example through final-year internships and the minor The Climate-Proof City. Together with the lecturer-researchers, they are building a solid knowledge base to aid the development of climate-proof cities. The group also provides education in the form of lectures and seminars in the curriculum of the Built Environment and Urban Management programmes. Together with the Centre of Expertise City Net Zero, the research group also develops courses for professionals. An example is the learning programme Climate Adaptation.

Partners of the Climate Resilient City research group

The Climate Resilient City research group works together with the government, other knowledge institutions, engineering and consultancy firms and (contractor) companies. The research is funded in part by a grant from the Top Sector Water & Maritime.