STAR2Cs - Short Term Adaption for long term Resilience to Climate change

Climate change increases the likelihood and impact of flooding. Yet implementation of climate adaptation plans is still often lacking. STAR2Cs, a project funded by the European grant scheme Interreg 2 Seas, aims to bridge the gap between climate action and local initiatives through knowledge development among stakeholders and participation in local decision-making processes. STAR2Cs also introduces new tools for local climate adaptation.

Name of grant program

Interreg 2 Seas 2014-2020 is a European territorial cooperation program for England, France, the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). The Program is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has a total budget of €241 million. The overall objective is to develop an innovative, knowledge- and research-based, sustainable and inclusive 2 Seas region, where natural resources are protected and the green economy is promoted.

Project objectives

The STAR2Cs project focuses on knowledge sharing between the partners, with about five organizations also participating as 'observers' and thus watching the developments within the STAR2Cs project. One of the main project results is the Adaptation Catalyst, an e-tool in which all eight local pilot projects will be included as an example of how local scenarios can be developed. This e-tool will be made accessible to other users and stakeholders.

Contribution from HHNK

HHNK provides a water system analysis through detailed modeling. This visualizes the functioning of the water system including vulnerabilities and solution directions. Because the areas can be compared with each other, the results of the water system analysis form a good input for the cyclical process of know - want - work that is initiated by the Delta Programme Spatial Adaptation.

Location

Throughout the entire management area of HHNK, with the exception of Wieringermeer and the dunes, 60 polders are modeled.

Partners

The project has eight partners from four different member states (UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands):

  • Kent County Council (UK)
  • Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV (BE).
  • Province of East Flanders (BE)
  • Municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland (NL)
  • Municipality of Capelle aan den Yssel (NL)
  • Flemish Environment Agency (NL)
  • OLV (France)
  • Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (NL).

All parties jointly work on climate adaptations at the local level, which are cost saving in the long term, but implemented in the short term. All pilots follow the same kind of STAR2C approach which will be collected in an e-tool to be developed.

Budget

The total budget for the project is € 4.4 million. The contribution from HHNK is € 401,665. Of this amount, Europe (Interreg) subsidizes € 241,000 and the Province of North Holland subsidizes € 60,250.

Duration of the project

The project began on July 13, 2017, and is expected to run through Feb. 28, 2021.

Want to know more?

Contact the Water Board's Subsidy Coordination Team via the contact form or by calling 072 582 8282.