News item | 02-06-2025 | 15:00
Extreme heat has consequences for the health of people and for the quality of life in cities and villages. That is why the Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) and Infrastructure and Water Management (IENW) present today present the Heat approach 2025. In this they show what the government and social partners do to limit the consequences of persistent heat. The approach focuses on concrete actions in the short term that contribute to a healthy living environment for people in the built environment. The goal for the long term is to halve the number of people who die early due to the heat in 2050.
In addition to dealing with more often occurring extreme heat, the government is also working on reducing greenhouse gases as agreed in the climate agreement.
Four Theme Lines
The heat approach 2025 is subdivided into four theme lines: area, building, health and calamities. For example, parties who want to limit the consequences of heat, such as municipalities, housing associations and healthcare institutions, find it easy for each theme that is already happening.
- Area: We make the living environment greener and cooler
The Theme Line Area focuses on the greening and cooling of the living environment. Consider the installation of shadow spots, installing water taps and reducing paving. This helps to lower the temperature in residential areas and to make the stay outside more pleasant.
2. Building: homes comfortable and healthy
The Theme Line Building focuses on limiting heat in homes and buildings. Important measures are good insulation, ventilation and sun protection. This not only prevents overheating, but also unnecessary use of air conditioners and the associated high energy consumption.
3. Health: stay healthy in times of climate change
In the theme line ‘health’ the emphasis is on raising awareness and prevention of heat -related complaints. For example, the number of municipalities with a heat plan must grow from 90 to 180. Such a plan contains agreements about responsibilities and measures for a period of heat. The communication about heat also becomes clearer by using ‘heat power’, with which a number on the scale of 1 to 10 indicates the intensity of the heat.
4. Calamities: What if heat stress can disrupt society?
Finally, the theme line focuses Calamities on good preparation for heat crises. Consider clear warning systems and protocols. For example, (local) governments, emergency services and caregivers know exactly what to do with a heat crisis.
Work together
The approach offers good examples to learn from each other and practical tools to get started yourself. The ministries will physically bring the growing network with social organizations together to stimulate further action, knowledge sharing and cooperation.
Tackle Time Tackling
The heat approach 2025 focuses on concrete actions in the short term. In addition, it is also working on a broader plan for the future. In 2026, the cabinet will be released with the new national climate adaptation strategy (NAS ’26), in which the long -term approach for Hitte is also given a place.