Dutch Agro Water Climate Alliance

IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands

Plantage Middenlaan 2K

1018 DD Amsterdam

The Netherlands

E-mail: mail@iucn.nl

Internet: www.iucn.nl

Introduction

At the 15th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Climate Convention, industrialized nations

indicated that they aimed to raise US$ 100 billion in climate finance per year by 2020. Based on the

country’s fair share, the Dutch contribution to this climate finance may rise from € 200 million in 2013

to € 1.2 billion in 2020. The Dutch government wants around half of the contributions to international

climate finance to come from private sources.

With the Dutch Agro-Water Climate Alliance (DAWCA), IUCN NL and The Dutch Ministry of Foreign

Affairs combine their experience and best practices concerning private investments in climate.

Competences in the field of climate financing have to be developed with the method of ‘learning by

doing’. By exchanging information and experiences, companies, the government and NGO’s benefit

from each other’s expertise in tapping sources in the private sector.

DAWCA focuses on solutions that maximize the role of ecosystems in climate mitigation and

adaptation. These solutions involve the expertise of local communities as well as small and medium

enterprises in low- and middle-income countries. ‘Green’ infrastructure is preferred over ‘grey’

infrastructure. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to showcase inspiring private initiatives in

developing countries.

This document presents a brief summary of 12 projects in the agro-food and water sectors that

address causes and impacts of climate change or that help companies reduce risks that are related to

climate change. It is a small selection of many dozens of projects identified in an online survey

conducted by DAWCA. The innovative climate projects that are selected for this overview have the

potential to be scaled up or replicated, to inspire and illustrate what kinds of investments are possible

in these sectors. Investments in these projects can be considered effective contributions to the

reduction of climate problems.

Projects in two broad categories are presented:

Agro food

The Foundation Soil & More makes avoidance of methane formation possible during the

composting process, in order to generate carbon credits in developing countries.

Dutch coffee roasting company Peeze and supermarket chain Jumbo stand for Fairtrade

Climate Neutral Coffee.

Philips Climate Resilient Indoor City Farming replaces vulnerable and scarce agricultural land.

The Lipton Tea plantation of Unilever in Kericho, Kenya, is a model for sustainable tea

farming.

Desert greening fights desertification and reverses climate change in Africa and China.

Syngenta develops drought tolerant crop varieties to increase agricultural production.

The insurance industry helps managing the risks of communities that are vulnerable for

climate change.

Water

Dutch expertise and experience is used for Jakarta’s problems on water management and

urban development through an integrated master plan: The Great Jakarta Sea Wall.

Dutch Docklands plans to upgrade prosperity in wet-slums through creating new potential

building space ON water.

Royal HaskoningDHV cultivate oyster reefs in Bangladesh for coastal defense.

Deltares and Wetlands International build with nature to restore the Indonesian coast.

Acacia Water constructs infiltration wells in Bangladesh as a response to impending sea level

rise and increased flooding.

Photo by: Sajal Sthapit

Agro food Composting, emission reduction and land reclamation in Egypt by Soil & More

International

The avoidance of methane formation during the composting process generates carbon credits

in developing countries.

Where: 60 km northeast of Cairo, Egypt.

What: Avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture generates profitable carbon credits.

Kind of investment: Private.

Financial resources: None, because they use freely available agricultural waste.

The challenge

Unsustainable agricultural practices might lead to the loss of fertile top soil, which results in lower crop

production. Particularly in arid and tropical zones, climate change exacerbates erosion because

severe droughts and rainfall occur more frequently. At the same time, agricultural wastes, such as

crop residues and manures, emits methane when it is left to rot. Soil & More developed an innovative

technique to turn this biomass waste into high quality compost, aiming to restore the fertile soil and

reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The solution

Soil & More sets up management of composting projects and delivers worldwide services for

sustainability development of farming practices. Unwanted biomass from agricultural activities is

transformed to a stable humus complex through a controlled microbiological composting technique.

During the composting process, methane formation is avoided. This methane avoidance is quantified

and certified to generate carbon credits. These credits in turn subsidize the sale of the compost,

which is offered at local markets at a competitive price, for example to vegetable growers.

Simplified illustration of the transformation process from unwanted biomass (1) from controlled

microbiological composting (2) to a stable humus complex (3). During the composting process, the

very potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4) is avoided.

The method is simple. Agricultural waste such as wood, straw, coffee residue, green fresh material

and manure for composting is turned into stable compost through controlled microbiological

composting. During this process, the emission of methane (CH4) is avoided. Since 2007, Soil & More

and its partners have set up nine composting facilities in several countries: China, Egypt, India and

Kenya. These composting facilities produced in total approximately 294.072 tons of compost.

The demonstration site

Soil & More set up the first project in Egypt. This project produces around 90.000 tons of compost a

year, mitigating 100.000 tons of CO2-eq annually. In this way, greenhouse gas emissions are

decreased. These reductions are translated into credits, the sales of which create an income stream.

The compost also helps increase soil fertility, the capacity to hold water and microbial biodiversity.

Because it is relatively cheap and can be sold locally, this method is economically viable.

It is especially interesting for farmers in developing countries without sufficient fertile land. Chemical

fertilizers and inappropriate management of waste and crop residue, result in decreasing yields,

increasing water consumption and various crop diseases. In short, sustainable agricultural

development can be promoted with the concept of self-generated carbon credits worldwide.

Reference:

http://soilandmore.nl/index.php/eng/content/download/406/3181/file/Project%20Profile_Egypt.pdf

Fairtrade Climate Neutral Coffee from Peeze and Jumbo

100% certified coffee using the carbon offset verification from the Max Havelaar and the

Rainforest Alliance quality label results in Fairtrade Climate Neutral Coffee.

Where: Ethiopia.

What: Carbon offset verification improves the sustainability of the supply chain.

Kind of investment: Private.

Financial resources: Companies pay an upfront fair price to cover the cost for investments in

sustainable sourcing that enables the production of future carbon credits.

The challenge

Forests disappear rapidly, especially in low -and middle-income countries. Tropical forests are cut

down for agricultural expansion and mining. People cut trees for farming and for domestic energy.

Meanwhile, humanity continues to emit too many greenhouse gasses. For local farmers the impact of

the resulting climate change is enormous. This is far from fair: even though the least developed

countries contribute the least to global warming, they suffer the most. And small-holder farmers are hit

the hardest. Low and unstable market prices for coffee create additional problems for coffee growers.

The solution

If small-holder farmers reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses by implementing conservation

activities, they can receive carbon credits. By selling these carbon credits to companies and others

that are looking to offset their carbon footprint, the farmers are able to make a little more money. For

companies, the concept of carbon offset verification is an accessible method for improving the

sustainability of the source of the supply chain. Not only through offsetting their greenhouse gas

emissions, but also to measure and to reduce the carbon footprint of the organization. What is left can

be compensated with carbon credits. The more people participate, the more the climate will benefit.

The demonstration site

In Ethiopia, where coffee originated, the coffee bushes need protection of trees to thrive. But those

trees are rapidly disappearing. If these unsustainable activities remain unchecked, there won’t be any

forest left in Ethiopia in 25 years. Moreover, coffee bushes are extremely sensitive to increasing

temperatures. With a one-degree rise, the quality of the coffee is affected. With a two-degree rise, the

coffee bushes yield far less coffee. With a three-degree temperature rise, the coffee bushes struggle

even to survive.

Together with the coffee farmers of Ethiopia, Max Havelaar and ICCO have initiated the ‘Fairtrade

Carbon Partnership’. This program helps more than 30.000 Ethiopian farmers who are members of

Fair Trade cooperatives. The objective is to protect the forests and to help small-holder farmers to

generate more income. The program is threefold. Firstly, cook stoves have been distributed that use

far less wood. Secondly, new trees have been planted. Thirdly, coffee farmers have been trained how

to make better use of existing farmland. Furthermore, the Rainforest Alliance label adopts strict

requirements to stop environmental degradation and deforestation. They also enhance sustainable

practices that conserve land and waterways, improve livelihoods, and protect workers and

communities.

Through these three activities, the amount of greenhouse

gasses in the air is reduced. The small farmers receive

carbon credits they can sell to companies and others that are

looking to offset their carbon footprint. Coffee companies for

example purchase the credits to offset the carbon emissions

in their coffee supply chain that couldn’t be reduced

otherwise. This makes it possible to produce climate neutral

coffee. The coffee farmers receive a fair price of € 12.50 per

ton sequestered CO2 for their carbon credits.

To support a sustainable future for the coffee farmers, Peeze

sells only certified coffee from the Max Havelaar or the

Rainforest Alliance label. Currently they also sell Fair Trade

climate neutral coffee. Peeze purchases the credits

generated by the coffee growers and uses them to offset its

CO2 emissions along the coffee value chain. As of 24 March

2014, Dutch retail company Jumbo is selling the climate

smart coffee.

Surplus carbon emissions are compensated with carbon credits.

This makes the coffee 100% climate neutral.

Reference: https://www.peeze.nl/

Philips climate resilient indoor City Farming

Hyper-efficient City Farming factories replace rural agricultural lands that are increasingly

scarce and vulnerable to climate change.

Where: Chicago, USA.

What: Faster, tastier, and more environmental friendly vegetables with a consistent high quality that

can be produced locally and all year round.

Kind of investment: Private.

Financial resources: € 1.9 million.

The challenge

The world population is expected to reach about 9 billion in the year 2050. This will require more

agricultural production, whilst 80 percent of all the land that is suitable for growing food is already in

use. At the same time, the increase in severe weather events and the decrease in fresh water

resources across the globe are expected to reduce crop yields. The combined effect will be that

farmers won’t be able to optimize the conditions for crop growth. As a result food prices will rise,

making it difficult for poor people to purchase food. Especially people living in the poorest regions of

low-income countries and emerging economies will be hit hard. Moreover, together with rapid

urbanization, the disconnection between food source and food consumption often results in

unsustainable farmer practices, such as using excessive amounts of fertilizers and pesticides.

The solution

To address land scarcity and to help the transition to sustainable farm practices, Philips is developing

‘Hyper-efficient City Farming Factories’ close to or within cities. Organized in multi-later trolleys, crops

grow in a controlled environment with red/blue low-energy led-light, clean air and without pesticides.

The result is a better, faster, and tastier vegetable with a consistent high quality that can be produced

locally and all year round. There is no need to worry about seasons or extreme weather. Water can

be recycled continuously. Furthermore, missing nutrients are detected by sensors and can be

provided in small, accurate bursts for an optimal growth. These efficient growing conditions make it

possible to harvest 20 to 25 times a year. City Farming Practices have additional benefits. They

reduce waste of food and are faster and cheaper because they significantly shorten the distances

between farmers and consumers. Large-scale implementation could also reduce urban

unemployment.

City farming is climate resilient, water efficient and virtually free of pollution.

The demonstration site

Philips successfully launched a large-scale City Farming pilot in Chicago, USA. The concept can

easily be applied on a bigger scale anywhere around the world. The pilot costs about € 1.9 million, but

greater crop yield and higher crop quality and lower operating costs makes it a profitable business

and worthwhile to consider for urban areas in low- and middle-income countries.

Reference:

http://www.lighting.philips.nl/application_areas/horticultural/cityfarming.wpd

Increase crop yields through large-scale sustainable farming by Unilever

Kericho’s Lipton Tea plantation in Kenya is a model for sustainable tea farming.

Where: Kericho, Kenya.

What: Higher agricultural revenues through watershed conservation.

Kind of investment: Private, co-financed by the EU and UNEP.

Financial resources: € 5 million per year to certify the tea plantations of the entire Lipton Tea brand by

2015.

The challenge

A short-term visions of making as much profit

as possible, is often not sustainable in the

long-term. The environmental degradation

that is the consequence of unsustainable

farming practices has an impact on business

performances and the stability of local

communities.

The solution

To secure high agricultural yields at the

Kericho tea plantation in the future, holistic

approaches to sustainability in the producing

region are a must. Farmers need education

and financial resources to introduce

environmental friendly agricultural practices on their fields. Agro-forestry and nature conservation

make the regional ecosystem much more resilient to droughts and floods, and help to keep the

businesses stable. At the same time, farmers receive higher revenues from increased crop yields.

With an extra premium, farmers are be triggered even more to care about the environment.

Simultaneously poverty in local communities have been abated. If we want to ensure that everybody

on our planet can be fed in the future, the agricultural sector should adopt sustainable practices as

soon as possible.

The demonstration site

Till the early 1990s, tea production in Kericho contributed to fragmentation of indigenous forests,

which led to changes in the microclimate. Exposure of crops to high temperatures and changing

rainfall patterns resulted in reduced yields and a degraded environment. The Kenyan Tea

Development Agency responded to this situation by helping smallholder farmers to adopt more

sustainable tea growing practices. It helped them to get access to finance and training in sustainable

tea cultivation. The farmer’s school that was set up, helped to improve agricultural techniques, and

contributed to higher yields and income in the district while using the same amount of farming area.

Building on this initiative, Unilever, in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance, expanded the

sustainability drive. Now, about a million indigenous trees have been planted while wetlands and

forests are being protected. As a result, the number of rare and endangered species is increasing.

Clean hydropower and renewable eucalyptus forests are meeting almost the total energy needs of the

tea plantations. The farms and the entire watershed are now more resilient to drought. The farmers

have more stable businesses and generate higher revenues from increased crop yields and from

premiums for sustainable and certified tea. The lives of thousands of tea growers and their families

have been improved.

With this case, Unilever shows that the long-term sustainability of the environment and communities is

vital for its business performance. Unilever’s next step is to source its entire Lipton Tea brand from

certified sources before 2015. To pay producers premiums for their tea costs, about € 5 million per

year is required. To achieve the transition, Unilever receives support from the EU and UNEP.

By 2015, Unilever aims to farm 100 percent of its Lipton tea sold in tea bags from Rainforest Alliance

Certified farms.

References:

http://www.lipton.nl/article/detail/559440/de-kericho-plantage

http://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/~/media/Files/Resources/Leaders%20Groups/Natural_Capital/Cambridge_

Natural_Capital_Leaders_Platform_Case_Study_Kericho_Tea_Plantation.ashx

http://www.kenyahotelsltd.com/place/kericho-tea-hotel/

Desert greening fights desertification and reverses climate change

Large scale reforestation of the Gobi desert in China and sub-Saharan Africa allows

agriculture to flourish.

Where: Gobi Desert in China and sub-Saharan Africa.

What: Transforming the desert into a green and productive environment.

Kind of investment: Public investment from national governments, the World Bank and the Global

Environmental Facility.

Financial resources: € 4.7 billion for the Gobi desert and € 3.5 billion for sub-Saharan Africa.

The challenge

About two-third of the world’s grasslands and bushlands are threatened to turn into deserts,

accelerating global climate change, changing local rainfall patterns and increasing local temperatures.

In China for example, centuries of over-farming caused the expansion of the Gobi Desert, which is

now considered one of the most eroded place on earth. In Africa, the Sahara Desert is spreading

southward at a rate of around 45 km a year, causing traditional grazing societies descend into social

chaos.

The solution

Desert greening can help to stop the spread of the desert and to bring back the natural environment.

The main component of desert greening is the planting of trees. It is a method to restore biodiversity,

farming, forestry, the natural water system and other life supporting systems. It also sequesters

carbon, thus mitigating climate change.

The demonstration site

The part of China that is covered with forests increased from 16 percent to 20 percent since 1982.

Under their large-scale reforestation project more than 40 billion trees have been planted and it is

planned to cover a further 100 million acres, the size of Germany, by 2020. Much of the expansion of

forest will be achieved in the Gobi Desert. In addition to ecological benefits, this results in a more

sustainable supply of many forest products, and also opens up possibilities for forest-related incomes

for some rural communities. The tree planting project costs about € 4.7 billion and has been funded

by the World Bank and the Chinese government.

Another reforestation program is the so-called ‘Great Green Wall’ of the Sahara and the Sahel,

stretching 7000 km from Dakar in West Africa to Djibouti in East Africa. The planting of trees is

expected to provide a barrier against desert winds and will help to hold moisture in the air and soil,

which will allow agriculture to flourish. It is also expected that the forest will reduce erosion, enhance

biodiversity and improve countries' resilience to climate change. The World Bank and the Global

Environmental Facility are financing this project at a cost of € 3.5 billion.

The ‘Great Green Wall’ in Africa mitigates

climate change and greens the Sahara to

enable agricultural practices.

References:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2

012/jul/12/senegal-great-green-wall

http://www.forumforthefuture.org/greenfutu

res/articles/can-we-bring-back-wilderness

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/m

edia/photos/000/343/34337.jpg

Development of climate resilient crops by Syngenta

Drought tolerant corn variety increases agricultural production.

Where: Worldwide.

What: Agricultural biotechnologies make crops resilient to climate change.

Kind of investment: Private.

Financial resources: Unkown.

The challenge

In many developing countries climate change affects the availability of inputs for agriculture,

especially of water resources. An efficient use of water therefore must help these countries to meet

growing production demand. At the same time agriculture is a dominant source of greenhouse gas

emissions. Therefore another goal is to reduce these emissions.

The solution

Although public and political debate about health and safety issues continues, the application of

biotechnology can be helpful for climate mitigation and adaptation in agricultural production.

Biotechnology offers the possibility of creating new crop traits and varieties that are more resilient to

extreme weather events, while requiring less input of pesticides and nitrogen based fertilizers.

Simultaneously, it enhances crop yields. Therefore, if applied with care, agricultural biotechnology

offers solutions for climate change, while increasing food security and fighting poverty.

The demonstration site

Researchers and breeders from Syngenta`s biotechnology research arm selected, validated and

deployed multiple natural corn genes that protect the corn plant from water stress in several different

ways. The outcome was a new crop variety, called Artesian™ corn hybrid. The corn hybrid can

respond to water stress at virtually any stage of growth, managing gaps in rainfall throughout the

season. When it rains, yields are maximized and when it does not rain, yields are more than without

the use of this hybrid. Syngenta field trials in the US demonstrated that Artesian corn hybrids

consistently match or exceed the yield of comparable hybrids in optimal growing conditions or under

moderate drought stress. Under severe and extreme drought stress, Artesian corn hybrids have out-

performed trial averages by nearly 17 percent over the past four years. The new corn variety is hoped

to benefit farming in all drought prone areas of the world. Especially developing countries have the

potential to increase food security with this product.

Artesian corn vs. regular corn – Lakefield, Minnesota, 2013 Artesian is the far left strip and every

second strip (green). Regular corn every strip in between (brown).

Reference:

http://www3.syngenta.com/country/us/en/agriculture/seeds/agrisure-traits/documents/Artesian_Compare_sheet_HR.pdf

Insurance for climate-associated risks The western insurance industry helps climate-vulnerable communities to manage risk.

Where: Every (developing) country.

What: Insurance for impacts of climate change.

Kind of investment: Private (banks, humanitarian and development organizations, agricultural

cooperatives).

Financial resources: Unknown.

The challenge

During the last five years, the worldwide costs of disasters that are related to climate change have

risen to € 380 billion. That is three times more than the total costs of damage caused by climate

change in the 1970s. Especially, livelihoods and crop production are proven to be increasingly

vulnerable to climate change.

The solution

There is a business sector that is specialized in risk management and loss prevention. The insurance

sector can foster climate change adaptation in developing countries in several arenas. Insurance

companies offer expertise in risk management and know what adaptation measures are best taken

first. Moreover, these companies have experience with incentivizing loss reduction, developing new

insurance products, or raising the awareness of stakeholders about climate change impacts.

Insurance companies are particularly well equipped to advance innovative and proactive solutions for

climate change adaptation, given their expertise and core mission. It is an emerging business

opportunity, with the potential for market expansion worldwide.

The demonstration sites

An example of an insurance company that developed a new insurance product is Sompo Japan. They

introduced a crop insurance for rice farmers in northeast Thailand to protect them from catastrophic

losses due to drought. This concept was so successful that it has been scaled across Thailand and to

other countries in Southeast Asia. Another insurance company, Swiss Re, offers crop insurance,

combined with risk reduction, to the farmers who are most climate-vulnerable in Ethiopia. Swiss Re

also offers them savings and credit services. Through the innovative ‘’insurance-for-work’’ scheme,

farmers have the option to pay for weather-index crop insurance by contributing time and labor to

local projects for climate adaptation and resilience-building. The concept was introduced in Senegal in

2012. A third example of an insurance initiative is the Paris-based AXA Group and CARE. Together

they help vulnerable populations better prepare for risks that are related to climate. In Vietnam, they

are setting up a project to support the restoration of mangrove forests as natural flood barriers.

Furthermore, in Mali, community awareness have been raised to better prevent and mitigate risks of

flood crises.

References:

http://caringforclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/Business_and_Climate_Change_Adaptation.pdf

http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/3881978/steeds-meer-schade-klimaatverandering.html

Water Integrated water management for flood resilient urban development

Expertise and experience from the Dutch water sector is used for making the master plan of

the Great Jakarta Sea Wall.

Where: Jakarta, Indonesia.

What: The Great Garuda to save Jakarta from floods and urban challenges.

Kind of investment: Dutch consultancy firms and Indonesian partners are financed by international

banks and state enterprises.

Financial resources: € 30 billion.

The challenge

Urban flooding is a serious and growing development challenge. It is a global phenomenon which

causes widespread devastation, economic damage and loss of human lives. The occurrence of floods

is the most frequent among all natural disasters globally. In 2010 alone, 178 million people were

affected by floods. The total losses in exceptional years such as 1998 and 2010 exceeded $ 40

billion. Especially low lying, densely populated cities that lack flood protection are threatened by rise

of the sea level and sinking of ground water. In addition, a sharp population growth and pollution often

exacerbates the challenges.

The solution

Rapid urbanization requires the integration of flood risk management in regular urban planning and

governance. Inter-linkages between flood management and urban design, planning and management,

and initiatives against climate change, might have valuable social and ecological consequences. For

example, public health benefits from improved waste management, increased capacity of the

drainage system and reduction of flood risks. This can be achieved through multi-stakeholder

cooperation combined with strong, decisive leadership and commitment from national and local

government.

The demonstration site

Jakarta, the economic, cultural and political hart of Indonesia, is a vibrant cosmopolitan city. With over

10 million inhabitants, it is the most populated city of southeast Asia and this figure is still growing.

This growth has led to traffic congestion and scarcity of fresh water. But the most immediate

challenge that the city faces is subsidence that is related to groundwater. Jakarta is sinking with an

alarming rate of up to 17 cm per year. Extensive flooding, whether by seawater of by heavy rainfall,

occurs every year already, and this problem will only grow in the future, particularly in combination

with the projected sea level rise due to global warming. A fast response with a long-term plan is

required to turn the threats into opportunities.

The solution was found in the master plan of the Great Jakarta Sea Wall, created by a consortium of

18 Dutch consultancy firms. This integrated coastal development program aims to stop subsidence,

strengthen Jakarta’s existing sea wall, and build an offshore outer sea wall for long term protection.

New sanitation and water treatment systems will clean the rivers in order to support a newly created

freshwater lagoon and drink water supply. Furthermore, the sea wall will not only protect the citizens,

it will also connect the areas where they live and work. A robust infrastructure will relieve the traffic

congestion and connects east and west Java, seaport, airport, and city center. Other objectives of the

sea wall are to secure the future of fishing communities and to restore the mangroves along the

edges of the wall. The project duration is about 10 years.

The Jakarta Sea Wall will become an integral part of the development of the Indonesian capital.

References:

http://www.kuiper.nl/en/news/the-great-garuda-to-save-jakarta/

http://www.internationalwaterweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/D203-Jakarta-021112011-M.-

van-de-Watering.pdf

http://floodlist.com/asia/plans-reduce-jakarta-flooding

Floating settlements by Dutch Docklands

Upgrade prosperity in wet-slums by creating new potential building space ON the water.

Where: Wet-slums around the world.

What: Upgrade living conditions by using floating functions called ‘city apps’.

Kind of investment: Public and private.

Financial resources: About € 3000 per city app.

The challenge

The rapid unplanned growth of settlements in and around growing cities is a global challenge. Slums

are expanding rapidly and are often threatened by extreme climate events. Particularly slums in wet

areas are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, sea level rise and urbanization. These wet-

slums are characterized by people living close together with very little free space. They are located in

low-lying areas near water that run the risk of being flooded. Therefore people are unwilling to invest

in developing these wet-slump areas. However, slums are not going to go away, so the best thing to

do is to upgrade their prosperity by establishing more permanent settlements.

By using floating solutions new space is found on water.

The solution

Dutch Docklands, a world leader in floating developments, concepts and infrastructure, and Water

Studio are introducing floating City Apps that are flood proof. City Apps are units that rise with water

levels if an area floods and can be transported to other locations if necessary. The units are based on

standard sea-freight containers. City Apps offer a flexible and adaptable design, creating

solutions for the specific needs of each area. They are easy to install, cheap in use, and can be

prefabricated or transformed into units that serve as floating schools, floating purification plants,

floating housing, floating agricultural plots, floating solar blanket fields that provide electricity, floating

toilets and showers, floating parking lots, etc. The floating foundations of the apps are relatively

stable, so they can’t be washed away like many conventional housing constructions. The City App

also ensures continuity of essential functions during and immediately after a flood. But the most

important advantage of the floating City App containers is that the structures can be produced in

different countries and be assembled on the water, without affecting the environment. Therefore, it is

possible to produce City Apps easily at a large scale. Cities like Mumbai, Dhaka and Calcutta are the

best places to start using City Apps, because in these cities millions live in dense slums close to

water. The company hopes to build thousands of apps with different functions and purposes around

the world. NGO’s and development agencies should finance the first floating structures, which are

leased for a low monthly cost. After, it must become a bankable business case.

The demonstration site

The first major project will be a school App in the wet-slums in Korail, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This

project will be funded by the prize money from the 2012 Architecture and Sea Level Rise Award,

Dutch Docklands, and sponsors. Korail is the largest slum of Dhaka with over 40.000 inhabitants. The

slum can be considered as a city in a city, but without any space left. A floating foundation will be

constructed in Bangladesh and assembled on location. Dutch Docklands also plans to bring City Apps

for sanitation, toilets, showers, garbage collection and internet connection.

An artist impression of a Dutch Docklands City App in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

References:

http://www.dutchdocklands.com/News/Interview-BNR---Drijvende-steden-aanleggen-in-VS

http://www.dutchdocklands.com/Development/Housing

http://www.waterstudio.nl/images/hsen/20130829%20Quartz.pdf

Eco-engineering strengthens coastal defense by Royal HaskoningDHV

Cultivating oyster reefs combats coastal erosion in southeast Bangladesh.

Where: Along the coast of Kutubdia Island, southeast Bangladesh.

What: Establishing an eco-engineered coastal defense system that is integrated with sustainable

aquatic food production.

Kind of investment: Public investment through the Partners for Water Initiative.

Financial resources: Investment of about € 200.000 / ha. Total value of ecosystem services provided

by oyster reefs is € 13.000 /ha/yr.

The challenge

Bangladesh is one of the world’s least developed countries and one of the most vulnerable to climate

change. The chronic problem of coastal erosion in Bangladesh is growing under the influence of

climate change Tropical cyclones and storm surges will become more common and more intense.

The sea level will rise. Combined with enhanced monsoon rainfall and runoff these conditions are

threatening lives, livelihoods, property and environment, and result in substantial economic losses.

The solution

Ecosystems are massively important from both an economic and an ecological perspective and are

essential for our food supply. Ecosystem engineering can serve as a cost-effective solution to create,

modify or maintain habitats and ecosystem processes. In Bangladesh, eco-engineering can protect

vulnerable sections of coastline against erosion in a natural way. With this approach it is possible to

discover their potential as a sustainable aquatic food source for local consumption and for trade.

The demonstration site

To counter erosion and to protect the areas that are vulnerable to coastal erosion, conventional

barrier techniques have been implemented, such as concrete blocks, earthen dikes and sand filled

tubes. However, for a country like Bangladesh these measures are expensive. Moreover, the question

is whether the use of hard-engineering structures alone is sustainable. Therefore, Royal

HaskoningDHV developed a cost-effective, integrated method to mitigate coastal erosion, using

oysters as ecosystem engineers. Oysters have the capacity to grow and build natural reefs that trap

sediments and reduce wave energy, which contribute to a natural coastal defense system.

Furthermore, the reef needs no maintenance costs, while it enhances biodiversity, improves the

quality of the sea water, and improves people’s livelihoods: the oysters are a food source they can

harvest and sell. Royal HaskoningDHV is planning to construct an oyster reef in Bangladesh at a cost

of about € 200.000 per hectare, financed by the Dutch government through the Partners for Water

Initiative. However, the costs can be regarded as an investment, because the total value of

ecosystem services provided by the oyster reefs are about € 13.000 per hectare per year.

The skeleton of the

oyster reef, before it is

placed in the coastal

waters of Bangladesh.

References:

www.royalhaskoningd

hv.com

Deltares and Wetlands International use the natural system for coastal recovery in

Indonesia

Where: Northern coast of Java near Semarang and Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia.

What: Building with nature to combat coastal erosion.

Kind of investment: Funding from the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

Financial resources: Not known.

The challenge

Indonesia suffers from large-scale coastal erosion due to the rise of the sea level and more frequent

storms. The destruction of mangroves makes coastal retreat even worse, especially in Java and Bali,

where the mangroves have been transformed into large fishponds. In some locations, the shore

erodes dozens of meters each year. People’s livelihoods and entire communities are under threat.

The solution

Various ecosystems lend themselves for the integration of eco-engineering and hydraulic engineering.

Suitable environments include for example sandy shores, estuaries, tropical coastal seas, shallow

coastal seas and delta lakes. All of these are confronted with several threats: urbanization, economic

development, accelerated sea level rise, subsidence or climate change.

The demonstration site

The project has restored mangroves at Java in Indonesia by putting permeable wooden barriers in the

ocean along the shoreline to break waves and to trap sediments. In this naturally created environment

mangroves are able to regenerate. As a result, the mangroves are restored as breeding grounds for

fish and shellfish. The extra income for local fishermen is a key co-benefit from this project.

Traditional land

reclamation method

is used for the

restoration of

mangrove forests in

Java, Indonesia.

Another project of land reclamation will be introduced in Bali. This island is getting increasingly

popular as a tourist destination, whilst their airport has reached its full capacity. The necessary

expansion of the airport is partly offshore. However, this construction caused the currents and waves

to change, which led to unwanted coastal erosion. To restore and to protect the coast the

development of a Sand Engine is planned that will nourish sand along the eroded coast. The natural

forces from the wind, waves and currents will spread the sand over the next decennia along the

coastline to create new beaches and dunes. When this newly generated coast has turned into an

integral part of the existing beaches and dunes, it strengthens the resilience from sea level rise. At the

same time it creates more space for nature and recreation. The Sand Engine was already applied

with success on a large sand nourishment project on a 20 km coastal stretch in the Netherlands, at a

cost of € 70 million.

A Sand Engine like

this one in the

Netherlands will

nourish sand along

the coast of Bali to

restore its eroded

beaches.

References:

http://www.deltares.nl/en/news/news-item/item/16987/dutch-building-with-nature-approach-used-in-

coastal-recovery-for-java-and-bali

http://floodlist.com/europe/sand-engines-netherlands

The project of infiltration wells by Acacia Water

Respond to expected sea level rise and increased flooding through the construction of

infiltration wells in Bangladesh.

Where: Places in Bangladesh with shallow brackish aquifers.

What: Water retention during monsoon floods using infiltration wells.

Kind of investment: Public funding from UNICEF.

Financial resources: € 0.009 per liter of water.

The challenge

If there is one area that will have to prepare itself for the effects of climate change and sea level rise,

it would be the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Additionally, fresh water is getting scarcer there. While

the country receives plenty of rain each year, it is concentrated in three to four months during the

rainy seasons. Droughts are now lasting longer and are more intense. Together with sea level rise,

salt water intrusion has become irreversible. The saline groundwater leads to fresh water shortages

during the dry seasons, especially for the families that live in coastal districts where the soil is not able

to store fresh water naturally in groundwater aquifers.

The solution

Acacia Water, a leading Dutch supplier of practical advice regarding groundwater challenges, found a

technique to secure fresh water supply for villages in dry periods. With the construction of infiltration

wells rainwater can be stored in shallow brackish groundwater aquifers. Rainwater is harvested from

rooftops and ponds during the monsoon period. It is then led vertically in a well between solid clay

strata, which are not permeable for salt water. When needed during the dry season, the stored fresh

water can be pumped to the surface, in order to have a secured fresh water supply year round. The

total cost of an infiltration well installation amounts to € 9 per 1000 liter. For rural villages, this is

cheaper than alternative options such as water tankers, other types of rainwater harvesting or long

distance pipelines.

The demonstration site

Acacia Water made an assessment of water buffering needs and opportunities in coastal Bangladesh

and chose four villages to apply the infiltration well technology. The residents of these villages are

now able to use the facilities for drinking water. A partnership between researchers, consultants,

government officials, development partners and NGO’s has proven to be very effective in successfully

demonstrating the potential of the technology. The criteria for site selection, site-specific design,

construction and monitoring are well established, which means they can be used for up scaling. There

is a scope to reach 1.5 million people with these systems in Bangladesh. Besides the fact that it can

be used for drinking water purposes, it might also be a solution for the agricultural sector if crop

production suffers from saline seepage.

The system of infiltration, storage and extraction secures water supply when needed.

References:

http://www.acaciawater.com/media/producten/Vakbladen/combating-salinity.pdf

http://www.acaciawater.com/pages/posts/fresh-water-supply-in-bangladesh-unicef-177.php

http://www.acaciawater.com/pages/english/projects.php

http://www.acaciawater.com/media/download_gallery/MAR_flyer_20Nov2011.pdf

http://blogs.egu.eu/gfgd/2013/02/04/guest-blog-managed-aquifer-recharge-in-coastal-bangladesh/

About IUCN NL

IUCN NL is the Dutch national committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature,

the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization. IUCN publishes the Red List

of Threatened Species and is the only environmental organization with official UN Observer

Status. IUCN unites more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000

volunteer experts in some 160 countries.

Within the international IUCN umbrella organization, IUCN NL helps the world find pragmatic solutions

to our most pressing environment and development challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate

change and poverty. Nature is fundamental to addressing these problems. Nature is the foundation of

our economy and our wellbeing. It provides us with food, clean water, fresh air, energy, medicine and

a roof over our head. That is why the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems is at the heart of

IUCN’s mission.

IUCN currently has 39 Netherlands-based member organizations. In striving towards a sustainable

future we work closely with our 39 member organizations and network of companies, governments,

southern NGOs and scientists, sharing knowledge and expertise, executing concrete projects and

influencing the political agenda. We focus on three themes: green international cooperation, greening

companies, and restoring and conserving nature.

IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands

Plantage Middenlaan 2K

1018 DD Amsterdam

The Netherlands

www.iucn.nl

About the Dutch Agro-Water Climate Alliance

The Dutch Agro-Water Climate Alliance unites companies, NGOs and governments to support

business cases that counter causes and impacts of climate change.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It poses major threats to ecosystems -

the natural resource base on which economies depend.

The Dutch Agro-Water Climate Alliance identifies options and finds resources for business

opportunities that help companies to reduce climate change related risks in their value chains. The

alliance prioritizes those options that also help reduce underlying causes of climate change and that

contribute to adaptation outcomes outside company fence lines. The alliance creates competitive

advantages with reputational rewards.

The Dutch Agro-Water Climate Alliance is a flagship project of IUCN NL’s Leaders for Nature program

and receives financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

More information:

Janwillem.denbesten@iucn.nl

Gerhard.mulder@iucn.nl