Niko Wanders on the implications of future droughts in the Netherlands

On 27 August 2019, Duurzaam Bedrijfsleven and Dr. Niko Wanders (Assistant Professor Hydrological Extremes and member of the Utrecht Young Academy) discussed the challenges that future droughts will pose to the Netherlands.

Although the Netherlands has a long tradition of keeping seawater at bay, timely measures should be taken to prevent our freshwater supply from dwindling. Due to climate change, droughts have become an increasingly pressing issue. The effects of these droughts are felt throughout nature, industry and society.

A wake-up call

The effects of droughts are manifold. For example, peat bogs are not only affected by droughts in the capacity of supporting water-dependent ecosystems, but droughts can also destabilise the peat dykes that have been protecting us against water, causing them to tear and move. In 2003, gas, water and electricity pipes started to break as a result, which eventually led to the evacuation of 1500 people.

The strong drought of last year’s summer served as a wake-up call, Wanders argues. The government, water boards and businesses have started projects that address droughts; for instance in the field of water storage. However, most action is still in the form of pilot projects, and continued awareness of the risks of droughts is necessary for solutions to receive the attention they need to mature. Wanders: “I worry that we will forget about the urgency of the problem after three wet summers.”

Opportunities to act 

“Droughts are a natural phenomenon which we cannot stop. But we can take measures to curb their consequences”, Wanders suggests. Unlike the case with decreasing CO₂ emissions, where it is argued that it is hard for a small country to make a large difference, local solutions for the effects of droughts can have huge impacts. Wanders: “We have a good system of water management. Moreover, we are situated favorably, with the Rhine and Meuse channeling in a lot of water. That gives us many opportunities for sustainable water management.”