IMPETUS partners launch 7 regional surveys – get involved!

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What do Berlin (Germany), Catalonia (Spain), Attica (Greece), Zeeland (Netherlands), Troms and Finnmark (Norway), Zemgale (Latvia) and Trentino (Italy) have in common? These regions all face climate change impacts and host EU-funded IMPETUS project activities to address the challenges. And, the local project partners want to hear from you if you are there! Individuals and organisations located around the project’s demonstration sites are invited to take part in their regional survey. Available in local languages and in English, these 15-minute surveys will form the basis for activities to help these communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Be part of the climate-change solution

The survey responses will help shape climate change adaptations for long-lasting benefits in each of the regional communities. Based on the survey responses, the IMPETUS partners for the seven demonstration sites will offer local citizens, businesses, industry, media and civil society representatives further opportunities to take part in project activities. By participating in activities to co-create relevant solutions, local representatives can ensure that regional economic, social and cultural factors are taken into account and contribute to locally beneficial climate adaptations and the wider IMPETUS goals for a climate-neutral and sustainable future.

Take the survey!

For people living, working or doing business in or around the following areas, please share your knowledge, expertise, concerns and ideas about climate change and its impacts in your region:

Berlin metropolitan region, Germany
IMPETUS ‘Continental’ site
– Berlin survey in German
– Berlin survey in English
– Berlin survey news in German (KWB site)
– Berlin survey news in English (KWB site)

-> More about the IMPETUS Continental demo site

Coastal region of Catalonia, Spain
IMPETUS ‘Coastal’ site
– Catalonia survey in Catalan
– Catalonia survey in Spanish
– Catalonia survey in English
– Catalonia survey information in Catalan (Eurecat site)
– Catalonia survey information in Spanish (Eurecat site)
– Catalonia survey information in English (Eurecat site)

-> More about the IMPETUS Coastal demo site

Attica region, Greece
IMPETUS ‘Mediterranean’ site
– Attica survey in Greek
– Attica survey in English
– Attica survey news in Greek (coming)

-> More about the IMPETUS Mediterranean demo site

Zeeland & Rijnmond regions, Netherlands
IMPETUS ‘Atlantic’ site
– Zeeland & Rijnmond survey in Dutch
– Zeeland & Rijnmond survey in English
– Zeeland & Rijnmond survey news in Dutch (KWR site)

-> More about the IMPETUS Atlantic demo site

Troms and Finnmark region, Netherlands
IMPETUS ‘Arctic’ site
– Troms and Finnmark survey in Norwegian
– Troms and Finnmark survey in English
– Troms and Finnmark survey news in Norwegian (UiT site)

-> More about the IMPETUS Arctic demo site

Zemgale region, Latvia
IMPETUS ‘Boreal’ site
– Zemgale survey in Latvian
– Zemgale survey in English
– Zemgale survey news in Latvian (BEF Latvia site)

-> More about the IMPETUS Boreal demo site

Valle dei Laghi, Trentino region, Italy
IMPETUS ‘Mountains’ site
– Valle dei Laghi survey in Italian
– Valle dei Laghi survey in German
– Valle dei Laghi survey in English
– Valle dei Laghi survey news in Italian (EURAC site)
– Valle dei Laghi survey news in German (EURAC site)
– Valle dei Laghi survey news in English (EURAC site)

-> More about the IMPETUS Mountains demo site

Local organisations, local focus

The partners around each of the seven demonstration sites are taking the leading role in their region’s IMPETUS project activities. Some partners focus on urban or drinking water systems, others on digital technologies or the use of Earth observation satellite data, others are municipal or government bodies, and some are research-based institutions or companies, bringing a wide range of disciplines and expertise to the project. As the local contact points for the project’s vital work to engage with regional stakeholders, these partners are the key to co-creating solutions and learning outcomes, and ensuring the long-term impact and legacy of the work.

“This is an exciting opportunity to get involved, create a collaborative network and build solutions for the future of these regions, communities and countries. We kindly invite anyone with interest or knowledge about climate change and its local impacts to help us kick-start this important work by answering their regional survey questions.”

Hella Schwarzmüller, KWB Head of Groundwater Department, IMPETUS coordinator for deployment of solutions at demo sites

Further information

Find out more about the seven IMPETUS demonstration sites and solutions, local climate-change risks and activities, and all the IMPETUS partners.

icon_heat

High temperatures

Record-breaking summertime temperatures have been recorded in the Netherlands in recent years. With global temperatures rising, such extreme weather events will occur more often, and for longer periods. Prolonged high temperatures, with warm nights as well as hot days, can cause heat stress* and related health issues, particularly among city populations.

*Heat stress occurs when the human body cannot get rid of excess heat and can impact wellbeing through conditions such as heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps and rashes.

Map of Zeeland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands
Zeeland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands (© ESCI)
Heat stress map of Zierikzee in Zeeland
Heat stress map of Zierikzee in Zeeland (© N&S)

"We want to enable municipality decision makers who are working on spatial developments to identify heat stress 'hot spots' and cool areas, analyse the future effects of climate change, and model the effect of different heat stress-reducing measures. The tool must provide them with an easy starting point to integrate heat stress risks in their projects."

Martine Rottink, Nelen & Schuurmans

Issue

Despite the cooling effect of the sea in the region of Zeeland, the growing risk of heat stress has become a concern.

Elderly and other vulnerable people are more impacted by the effects of prolonged heat, which can cause headaches, dizziness, insomnia and other health issues – even death. Excess temperatures also affect general comfort and liveability of cities. Water quality can be reduced, both for drinking and swimming, and infrastructure can be affected. Buildings and concrete surfaces trap heat, potentially leading to damage, and release it during the night, keeping temperatures warm.

During heat waves, it is important that everyone has access to a cool and comfortable place. Appropriate spatial planning can help to decrease and deal with heat stress. Environmental factors like water bodies, trees, and shade have a major impact on stress caused by high temperatures. Therefore, planting trees, removing concrete surfaces, creating green roofs and cool spaces can improve our comfort and health. The IMPETUS Atlantic team is developing a digital tool to support regional decision making for city planning to address these needs.

Flood risk
Energy and waste water
icon_flood

Flood risk

By 2050, sea-level within this region is predicted to rise by 15-40 cm, with more frequent extreme weather and more (severe) storms triggered by climate change. These changes will exacerbate the natural risk of flooding in the IMPETUS ‘Atlantic’ region, because it is surrounded by rivers and the sea, and is below sea level.

*Risk takes into account two aspects; the chance that an event will occur and the negative impact of such an event once it occurs. When there is a low chance that an event will occur, but its impacts are huge, the risk is still significant.

Zeeland dike
Zeeland dike
Elevation map of Rotterdam and Zeeland
Elevation map of the IMPETUS 'Atlantic' site (© N&S)
Flood risk map of Rotterdam and Zeeland
Flood risk map of the IMPETUS 'Atlantic' site (© N&S)
Elevation map of part of the Netherlands
Elevation map of part of the Netherlands (© N&S)

“In the Netherlands, an extensive system of dikes protects us against sea and river flooding. We have always put our faith in this defence and focused almost solely on flood prevention. However, pressure on our system will increase with climate change and rising sea levels. To adapt and maintain a safe living environment, we should develop other safety measures, like more robust spatial planning and contingency plans."

Martine Rottink, Nelen & Schuurmans

Issue

Rotterdam city, is located in Rijnmond – ‘mouth of the Rhine’. The Rhine river flows through this densely populated area and characterises the region. Protections such as sea dikes and storm surge barriers have been constructed to protect the region, but flooding still occurs.

People living in the city are accustomed to seeing smaller floods. The changing climate affects the interplay between rainfall, river levels and sea storms, increasing the flooding risk. Water levels could rise by a few metres, even in populated areas, with potentially massive impacts. 

Mitigation measures such as storm surge barriers reduce the chance that high water reaches the city, but to minimise the impact of floods when they do occur, adaptation strategies are also needed. A city that can adapt to be safe from floods must be carefully designed. How best to design such an adaptive city?

Critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and evacuation routes, must be accessible at all times. Planning how to best protect them, homes and lives is complex. Flood water behaves in a complex way and flood risks show strong spatial variations. The IMPETUS Atlantic team is developing a digital tool to support regional decision making for adaptive city planning. 

Energy and waste water
High temperatures
icon_factory

Energy and waste water

To become climate-neutral by 2050, climate mitigation* efforts are crucial in our strategy for how to deal with climate change. Reducing our energy consumption is a significant mitigation step. In the Netherlands, 15% of energy is consumed in the Rijnmond area around the port of Rotterdam, in large part by a major petrochemical industry cluster.

*Climate mitigation encompasses measures such as technologies, processes, or practices that reduce carbon emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.

Map of Zeeland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands
Zeeland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands (© ESCI)
Zeeland dike
Zeeland dike

Issue

The Rotterdam port petrochemical industry cluster is Europe’s largest. It consumes 70% of the Rijnmond region’s energy. A large part of this energy is wasted (64%, 203 petajoules). More than half of that energy is lost with wastewater. In addition, most energy processes within these industries rely on fossil fuels, which has a significant impact on the climate.

Energy use must be minimised and fossil fuels should be replaced by renewable sources if climate change is to be mitigated. Electrification of processes opens up the possibility to use more renewable energy and can greatly impact decarbonisation. Recovering wasted heat would significantly reduce energy consumption and is a first step towards a more circular industry. 

Supporting industries in a transition towards climate-neutrality depends on identifying how best to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing production or performance. The IMPETUS Atlantic team is creating a digital tool that supports decision making about pathways towards an effective energy transition for EU industry.

High temperatures
Flood risk