Climate adaptation: what does it mean for the concrete sector?

The first topic to be discussed during Concrete Event is climate adaptation. The climate is changing and this has major implications for our country:

• Torrid summers, levees drying out, heat stress in cities
• Extremely high water levels in rivers and very low water levels at the same time
• Storms cause high water in North Sea
• Rain showers of greater intensity are more frequent

The process of coping with the consequences and problems caused by climate change is called climate adaptation. Every new project in the Netherlands is tested for these consequences and adapted to the expected conditions.

At the Concrete Event on Thursday, Nov. 5, we will cover the topic on several levels.

Interior of the Netherlands

The kickoff will take place through a keynote presentation with Delta Commissioner Peter Glas, who will be interviewed by the program director of the Concrete Agreement, Jacqueline Cramer. How can we keep the Netherlands safe and how can the concrete sector contribute to this?

The water system in the Netherlands

Water storage in the IJsselmeer and the renovation of the Afsluitdijk. Bas Reedijk of BAM talks about the approach that will allow us to move forward with the Afsluitdijk for another 100 years. His colleague Harry Corporaal shows how the concrete blocks for the project have been modified to reduce CO2, including through weight reduction and adjustment in the mixture.

The cities in the Netherlands

Preventing heat stress and flooding leads to interesting projects. Johan Verlinde will talk about the approach in Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Weather Word, and will cover a number of practical examples.

Finally, we end with a project: we show that climate adaptive measures are integrated into necessary projects. The Kruispleing garage in Rotterdam that also serves as water storage. Albert Allaart talks about the approach and construction of this interesting project.

To register directly for the 2020 Concrete Event, click here.