Based around two specific meteorological issues, costal erosion and inland flooding, both associated with extreme weather events, teams will asses the issues around climate change and develop solutions/scenarios around how The Netherlands might adapt to these apparent changes. Should they fight or should we flight?

More about the project and goal
The team will look at environmental, social and economic aspects of the problem, explore different possible scenarios and develop solution and decision making tools.

The Netherlands is an incredibly low lying area of Europe.  It has for many centuries worked to increase its terrestrial land mass creating dykes and dams.  Human ingenuity over the centuries has shown incredible results with large areas below sea level inhabited by people who consider this area home.  They have a deep cultural attachment to this unique environment. However, the inhabitants of this unique area are experiencing change like the rest of the world.

Their homeland is experiencing large storm surges, increased rainfall and the prospect of rising sea level.  This will most likely strain their sea and land fortifications.  These climate and oceanic changes, new to the population in this area, will have environmental, social and economic impacts on. 

We need to debate how we should cope, with two clear emotions on display; the need to protect a way of life for people living in these affected areas and the protection of the natural environment for the ecosystem services it provides.  Both emotions have environmental, social and economic implications.

The challenge for our society is to change using the principles of sustainable development, taking heed of environmental, social and economic aspects.  But how do we change?  Do we fight or do we flight?

Amongst other things, the project outcomes may include;

            How to communicate the problem

            Propose solutions to how we adapt

            Design decision making tools for change

Study areas
While students may have a specific study area, we aim to get a team that has one or more of the following elements.  A super team will have all three elements;

           Environmental sciences who understand the mechanisms causing change on  our   environment

                        Social sciences where participants recognise the impact slow or sudden changes have on society and our inherent response to these

                        Business and finance where decisions were once made on economic models, now we must think about other factors such as people and the natural world

Participants may have one or more of the elements.  Alternatively they could have a background in an area that may be impacted by climate change such as farming, fishing or forestry.

Link:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskto8PjY

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