In the Netherlands, local and regional authorities are taking climate adaptation seriously. However, they often face limitations in funding, coordination, and capacity. That’s where the IMPETUS Atlantic demo site comes in: developing innovative tools and decision-support systems to help translate awareness into informed action.
In this interview, we speak with Jasper van Lieshout, leader of the Atlantic demo site. He shares how his team is supporting municipalities in addressing heat stress and flooding, including in complex environments like the Port of Rotterdam. From high-resolution heat maps to cross-site collaboration, their work not only strengthens local resilience but also feeds into national strategies and offers inspiration for peers across Europe.
According to the European Committee of the Regions, 90% of climate change adaptation measures are undertaken by local and regional authorities. Looking at your own region, do you think the local authorities have the resources to implement these measures? What do you think they are missing?
JvL: “Looking at the Netherlands, it’s true that local and regional authorities carry most of the responsibility for implementing climate adaptation measures. They take this seriously and do their best with the means available. However, their financial and organisational capacity often falls short, especially given the scale and complexity of the challenges. This reflects a broader trend across many European regions.
What’s often missing are clear national guidelines and dedicated funding streams. For adaptation to be effective, local authorities need financial support and strategic direction that enable collaboration across sectors and regions. In practice, coordination between different levels of government and sectors is still difficult. Many measures could be more impactful if better aligned, rather than carried out in isolation, especially since climate impacts often cut across boundaries.
Additionally, some risks, such as global sea level rise, go beyond the capacity of local authorities alone. Even when actions or adaptation measures are only taken locally, large-scale solutions such as flood defenses requires national leadership, long-term investment, and in some cases, and sometimes even cross-border cooperation.”
Have locals, policy-makers or businesses generally become more vocal about changes in their environment due to climate change?
JvL: “Yes, definitely. Awareness of climate change impacts has grown significantly, among policymakers, businesses, but also the non-expert audiences within our demo site. People increasingly experience the effects firsthand, such as heat waves during summers or more frequent flooding. As a result, many are becoming more vocal about the changes they observe in their environment.
However, these concerns are often not supported by understandable quantitative information data, either on the risks themselves or on the effectiveness of adaptation measures. This makes it difficult to turn awareness into concrete, informed action.
That’s where the IMPETUS project plays a key role. By making climate information accessible, clear, and easy to understand, we aim to bridge the gap between experts and non-experts. Our tools and communication efforts support more informed decisions by citizens, businesses, and policy-makers alike. This inclusive approach helps ensure that concerns are not only acknowledged, but also backed by data, and translated into meaningful local climate action.”
You have been developing climate adaptation packages in the project. Is there one measure that has stood out to you, or that you’re most proud of?
JvL: “I’m proud of all the measures we’ve developed. Each technical solution addresses a specific challenge and contributes to climate adaptation in a meaningful way. But if I had to highlight one, it would be our heat awareness system.
It’s a fully operational decision support tool that identifies local heat stress hotspots at a 1-meter resolution. What makes it stand out is its ability to simulate the impact of adaptation measures on the fly within seconds, like planting trees, changing land use, or adjusting urban layouts, directly within the tool. This gives users, including local municipalities, a clear picture of how specific interventions can reduce heat risks.
The system is already in use by several municipalities to guide their new sustainable urban planning. Building on this, we also developed the official national Heat Maps of the Netherlands at 1×1 meter resolution, which are now being used to inform both national and local policy.
Seeing the tool move from research and ideas into real-world application and support tangible decisions on climate resilience is something I’m especially proud of. It shows the value of combining technical innovation with usability and clear communication.”
Throughout the project, you collaborated with partners from the six other demonstration sites. Were you surprised to find any problem (or solution) that was common to another demo site?
JvL: “Yes, I was surprised by how much the demo sites had in common, despite their original differences in hazards and local priorities. One of our main focus areas was heat stress, and we quickly saw parallels with southern sites like Attica, where extreme heat and drought have long been pressing issues. We also found strong links with the Boreal site in Latvia around flood risks. During our visit to the floodplains near Jelgava, we had valuable discussions that revealed how similar their challenges were to ours.
Another interesting connection was with the Arctic site, where Digital Twin technology was used to address climate risks. While the context and objectives were different, the use of advanced modelling showed clear potential across settings. What stood out across all demo sites was the shared challenge of stakeholder engagement. Regardless of geography, getting local actors involved and aligned was a common goal. Exchanging experiences on how to approach this was especially useful.
These insights showed that while each site has its own context, many of the core challenges and solutions are shared. That made cross-site collaboration one of the most valuable aspects of the project.”
What are the next steps for your demo site, and for your research?
JvL: “Our IMPETUS work at the demo site is just the beginning. While our technical solutions, such as the heat awareness system or decision support system for flood management, are already operational and in use by several Dutch municipalities, the next steps have already started. Here we focus on technical improvements and wider dissemination.
Currently, we are applying the developed tools in real-world context to better assess their impact and usability. Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, experts, scientist, and policymakers, helps us evaluate and refine our results so they can meet the practical needs of the end users.
A key priority moving forward is dissemination. We want to ensure the tools and insights developed in our demo site reach beyond the region. That means sharing results through workshops, publications, and partner networks to support other areas in Europe facing similar climate risks, both within and beyond the project.
But dissemination is not just about visibility, it’s also about enabling real uptake. Our goal is to ensure these tools support local policies, inform data-driven decisions, and bridge the gap between research and practical action. This includes working with local authorities, as well as with public partners like museums and education centres, to engage the wider public.
Ultimately, our focus is on making climate knowledge actionable. So that the benefits extend across sectors and regions, contributing to long-term resilience in Europe.”
Your aim to use the decision support tools you developed in Rotterdam port. Were there any unique challenges in developing these tools to be used in a port environment? Is there any advice you can give similar ports on Europe’s Atlantic coast?
JvL: “Yes, applying technical solution for the Rotterdam port presented unique challenges. Ports are complex environments with significant economic activity and many stakeholders. Integrating long-term climate adaptation or decarbonisation strategies into short-term operational planning isn’t always straightforward.
One key challenge was ensuring that measures align with the port’s core priorities: operational continuity, infrastructure reliability, and economic performance. To be taken seriously, strategies must demonstrate clear long-term value, reducing emissions while supporting business competitiveness. Another challenge is the fast-changing nature of ports: companies, land use, and infrastructure can shift rapidly. So, any tool or strategies must be flexible and easy to update.
In general, I would advise ports to start early. Decarbonisation take time, but early investment in planning using data-driven approaches can be cost-effective in the long run. It helps future-proof operations and supports the transition to a competitive, low-carbon future.”
The Atlantic demo site shows how technical innovation, when paired with usability and collaboration, can drive real progress in climate adaptation. Jasper’s team is helping turn complex data into practical decisions by focusing on actionable tools, such as the heat awareness system and decision-support models, and making them accessible to municipalities and planners. Their work also highlights the importance of national coordination, cross-border knowledge exchange, and early action, especially in critical environments like ports. As they continue testing and scaling their solutions, their experience offers valuable lessons for other European regions navigating similar climate risks.
