
Finance Solutions for a Resilient Delta:
Climate change poses new challenges for maintaining the livability of the Dutch delta and the stability of our economic and financial system. At Resilient Delta, we’re building an ecosystem of pioneering scientists, policymakers, and practitioners working on novel, transformative climate adaptation finance solutions for the Netherlands.
On May 22, over 100 leaders joined for our second annual Finance Solutions for a Resilient Delta expert meeting in Delft. Last year’s inaugural event (see below related content) laid the foundation for joint action, and this year’s event underscored just how far this community has come in getting to work together.
Tracy Metz, our host for the day, started the morning by welcoming Michelle Damen (Strategy & Partnerships Lead, Resilient Delta), who underscored the need to sustain and scale-up this action research ecosystem.
Zac Taylor (Academic Lead for Deltas, Resilient Delta and Assistant Professor, Urban Development Management, TU Delft) took the audience to Florida, where property insurers and other financial institutions are pulling out of communities in the face of rising climate risks and losses. Drawing lessons from Florida, Taylor outlined a vision for a transformative adaptation finance ecosystem in the Netherlands. What’s needed? A strong grasp the socio-economic dimensions of adaptation finance strategies, a shared and inclusive vision for the future, and collective capacity to collaborate across sectors and learn-by-doing.

Forestside Chat
Next, Frank Elderson (Vice Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank) and Co Verdaas(Delta Commissioner and Professor at TU Delft) took the stage to discuss where the worlds of central banking and delta management intersect. A key message: proactive investments in adaptation and nature conservation are key to economic and financial stability. The financial system is not only exposed to climate-related risks, but also a key player in helping society to adapt. Financial institutions and the public sector must cooperate to guide sectors through this transformation, minding both risks and opportunities.
Elderson and Verdaas also agreed that we must create fair and hopeful perspectives for action. With its strong history of water management and finance, the Netherlands can be a guiding country in climate adaptation finance – but only if knowledge is shared, sectors collaborate, and businesses and individuals are actively involved in shaping future scenarios. Cross-sector, multi-disciplinary knowledge is a key ingredient for success.

Academic discussions
After a mid-morning walk through the Hortus Botanicus, scientists illuminated how we can understand the economics of adaptation at the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels.
Frank van Oort (Professor, Urban & Regional Economics, Erasmus University) addressed how the current economic structure of the Netherlands and the notion of inclusive prosperity can inform adaptation choices: for now, focusing adaptation on the existing industrial heart of the country is most economically sound choice. Discussant Karen Maas (Professor and Academic Director of the Impact Centre, Erasmus University Rotterdam) reflected with van Oort on climate transitions in the Port of Rotterdam as a key case.
Theodoros Chatzivasileiadis (Assistant Professor, Economics and Finance of Climate Adaptation, TU Delft) showed how novel economic models and scenario thinking can inform the development of policy and finance instruments for sectoral transitions, as in pressing case of tulip farming in Holland. Discussant Steve Kennedy(Associate Professor, Business Sustainability, Erasmus University Rotterdam) considered Chatzivasileiadis’s propositions from a strategic innovation perspective, reflecting on how a wide range of stakeholders can co-design scenarios and act on modelling insights.
Tatiana Filatova (Professor, Computational Economics, TU Delft) focused on the link between individual behavior and climate adaptation in the context of housing, with a clear takeaway: policies and instruments must be carefully designed to avoid unwanted outcomes like climate gentrification. Taking up the case of water labels in the Netherlands, discussant Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb (Assistant Professor, Marketing Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Filatova discussed how individuals can be prompted to take action on adaptation, and how this must be in embedded in a larger perspective for society.
Five parallel sessions
After a garden lunch, participants took their seats at five parallel sessions co-hosted by academic and societal leads, building on new and existing collaborations on adaptation finance:
- “Water labels for homes” hosted by Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Wieke Tas (Ministry of Infrastructure & Water)
- “Sustainable earning models for business parks” hosted by Michaël Peeters (TU Delft) and Jan-Willem Vogels (Rabobank)
- “Financing Strategies for Urban Redevelopment” hosted by Tom Daamen (TU Delft and SKG) and Patrick Wijsman (ABN AMRO)
- “Investment Pathways for Floating Infrastructure” hosted by Wouter Spekkink (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Christiaan Weiler (Blue Revolution Foundation)
- “Risk Management for Climate Adaptive Building” hosted by Emanuel Ubert (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Vylon Ooms (Dutch Association of Insurers)
“Bolwerken”
The Sierteelt Region Knowledge Program was also launched during the afternoon. The Duin- and Bollenstreek, home of the famous Dutch tulip, faces new pressures from climate change. This calls for sector stakeholders and science to co-create new economic and financial perspectives. Tracy Metz moderated a talkshow with key representatives with a stake in the region’s future, ranging from growers and water authorities to finance and science. Participants then worked together in small groups to reflect on the aims and ambitions of a new action research program for the sector. More information about the program will follow in the coming weeks.

Attendees
Expert Meeting
ABN AMRO • Achmea • Agriver • a.s.r • Blue21 • Blue Revolution Foundation • Bouwinvest • Centrale Europese Bank • Climate-Resilient Insurance Strategy Project • De Nederlandse Waterschapsbank • Delta Programma • Deltares • Economic Board Duin en Bollenstreek • EPM Sneek • Erasmus Universiteit • Fonds Duurzaam Funderingsherstel • Gemeente Dordrecht • Gemeente Rotterdam • Gemeente Voorne aan Zee • HKV • HLTSamen • Klimaatonderzoek Initiatief Nederland • Koninklijke Heijmans N.V. • Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat • Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur • Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening • Nationale Hypotheek Garantie • Nationale Nederlanden • Natuur Centraal • Naturalis • Nature^Squared • NextGreen • Ortec Finance • Provincie Zuid-Holland • Raad voor de leefomgeving en infrastructuur •Rabobank • Resilient Delta Initiative • Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland • Rijkswaterstaat • Royal HaskoningDHV • Square Floating City • Stichting CAS • Technische Universiteit Delft • Unie van Waterschappen • Universiteit van Amsterdam • Univé • Verbond van Verzekeraars • Vereniging Deltametropool •VNO-NCW • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam • Wetenschappelijke Klimaatraad
Kick-off
Achmea • AgriVer • Akademie van Plaats • Anthos • Berenschot • Delta Programma • Economic Board Duin en Bollenstreek • Economic Board Zuid-Holland • EPM Sneek • Erasmus Universiteit • Europese Centrale Bank • Gemeente Alphen aan den Rijn • Gemeente Lisse • Gemeente Teylingen • Greenport Aalsmeer • Greenport Boskoop • Greenport West-Holland • HAS Green Academy • HLTSamen • Holland Rijnland • Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat • Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur • Natuur Centraal • Naturalis •Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken • Ochtendmensen • Provincie Zuid-Holland • Raad voor de Leefomgeving en Infrastructuur • Rabobank • Resilient Delta Initiative • Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland • Royal HaskoningDHV • Samenwerkingsprogramma Duin- en Bollenstreek • Technische Universiteit Delft