BONSAI
Boosting flood resilience in estuarine systems anticipating shifting climate zones
EU Funding
Total Budget
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Countries
Project summary
Accelerating climate change is leading to increased rainfall, droughts, storms, floods, and rising sea levels, which are particularly impacting the NWE region with its extensive estuarine systems. How can we better prepare these areas for the long-term effects of climate change? The overall objective of BONSAI is to increase the short- and long-term resilience of flood defense systems in tidal estuaries in the NWE region against climate change. This is achieved by learning from sites in different climate zones across Europe and by developing and sharing proactive and responsive measures. Through capacity building, organizations responsible for flood resilience and societal partners in tidal estuaries in the NWE region are empowered to strengthen their resilience and respond more effectively to flood threats caused by extreme weather events. The main results are:
(1) A transnational strategy for national authorities and three action plans for regional and local authorities
(2) Five solutions for increasing robustness, resilience, and disaster management
(3) Multiple training schemes and courses on flood disaster management and flood resilience, as well as one joint transnational flood academy. BONSAI aims to apply a holistic approach focusing on short- and long-term flood defense system resilience and improved disaster management. Different NWE countries address these challenges from their own perspectives. Transnational cooperation between NWE regions and beyond is essential because estuarine systems and climate change transcend borders, offering opportunities for mutual learning and building resilience. The BONSAI approach is unique in that it:
1) bridges the three layers of the multi-layer water safety approach (prevention, disaster management, and spatial planning);
2) simulates shifting climate zones based on insights from southern regions applied to northern regions; and
3) focuses on increased cooperation between countries so they can learn from each other (the north can learn from the south, and the south can learn from the north).