Cabinet takes next step in climate-proof construction | News item

News item | 23-03-2023 | 15:11

How do you ensure that buildings and their surroundings are resistant to flooding, flooding, drought, heat, biodiversity and subsidence? With the ‘Matchstick for a climate-adaptive green Built Environment’, the government provides clarity to governments and the construction sector about how they should build in the changing climate. Today, Minister De Jonge (Housing and Spatial Planning), Minister Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) and Minister Van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen) sent the yardstick to the House of Representatives.

The yardstick clarifies what climate-adaptive building and furnishing entails and works towards a less voluntary approach. After all, building in a way that is calculated for the future climate ensures that we can continue to live and work in a safe, healthy and green environment in the future.

Uniform frame of reference

The yardstick provides a nationally uniform frame of reference with which projects can be implemented in a climate-proof and green manner. The yardstick describes goals and performance requirements for new construction and provides guidelines for the themes of flooding, drought, heat, biodiversity, soil subsidence and mitigation of the consequences of flooding. How the yardstick is given substance in a building development is and remains a location-specific elaboration. By not prescribing specific measures, there remains local room for smart solutions and innovations from the market.

What now

The Measure of Climate Adaptive Green Built Environment is not yet legally required. In the spring, the government will start exploring the possibilities for legal assurance. For now, the yardstick provides clarity about what is expected of new construction in the field of climate-adaptive construction and design. The government is asking for the yardstick to be applied as much as possible in building plans.

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