Hotspots

A few geographical hotspots have been selected by the programme initiators. Knowledge will be developed and applied in these hotspots to enable the design of practical solution strategies in cooperation with stakeholders during the planning process. Pilot projects will be set up for the implementation of strategies in some hotspots, for example the Haaglanden hotspot.

The research programme will concentrate in the first phase on the development of adaptation strategies for a limited number of hotpots that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Hotspots/regional knowledge lines are chosen based on:

1. their economic importance and the importance of the investment agenda
2. the impact of climate change
3. the ambitions relating to innovation and adaptation
4. national and international transferability

In order to ensure that activities are demand-driven, a mixed team from the local authorities and business and science communities (a hotspot team) is put together for each hotspot in order to make an inventory of the knowledge requirement.

These hotspots are also a cross section of policy sectors in which climate change will play a dominant role. These sectors are:

• water management, water security, flooding and water availability 
• transport 
• agriculture, nature and recreation
• urban development
• energy supply
• financial services
• health

Click on the navigation menu on the left for a description of a hotspot.