Possible to limit effect of climate change on inland waterways

9 June 2011

Climate change can have a significant effect on water levels in the major rivers of the Netherlands. Researcher Erhan Demirel, who received his doctorate from the VU University Amsterdam on 6 April, investigated the effects of extremely low water levels, in particular on cargo transport on inland waterways. He looked at the consequences for both the private sector (reduced transport capacity) and the public sector (the authorities responsible for maintaining the navigability of the waterways).

Adaptation to climate change can include limiting the load factor, reducing the size of the vessel, maintaining higher safety stocks and working harder to maintain the navigability of the waterways. All these measures involve extra costs. Demirel calculated that the best situation is one in which both private parties and the government implement adaptation measures in response to low water levels. An example of a private adaptation measure is changes to the vessels; an example of a public measure is investment in infrastructure, such as dredging. The researcher established that there is an international imbalance in who carries the costs of these measures and who benefits from the adaptation measures. His conclusion is that inland Germany will be most affected by climate change. This region would also profit the most from measures taken to limit the effects of climate change.