WaterCoG

Webinar: Behavioural change based on own measurements

17 June 2020 - Published by Kraftvaerk

Adapting to climate change may also be a change in behaviour. But it is difficult to enforce the changes from the outside, and especially if you do not understand why, when and how to change your behaviour. This webinar is about how a project in the Netherlands has created changes by involving the locals in a measurement programme. The webinar is intended for everyone who works with inclusion and communication about climate change adaptation – The case is about water[GA1] [NPJ2] , but the essence of the story is generic.

On the island of Texel in the Netherlands they live by tourism and agriculture. The latter also with some high intensive crops like cultivating hyacinths and tulips, which requires a lot of water. Climate change threatens the high intensive crops as the island lacks fresh water. It is crucial to reach a better water household, otherwise large parts of the island will only become suitable for hay meadows.

The water authority in North Holland provides a simple measuring tool for the farmers, who themselves carry out a simple measuring program. The measurements can show when and for how long they have fresh waters in the channels, so that the flowers can be irrigated. The aquatic authority's objectives are:

  1. Measurements provide an understanding of causes of the problem,;
  2. That the understanding leads to acceptance of changes in channel regulation that can prevent waste of the fresh water resource.

Arjen Grent from the water authority in North Holland is the project manager of WaterCoG at HHNK, his presentation focuses on two things:

Involvement and effect: Who measures? Why did they get an interest in measuring? What do the participants say about their motivation for being part of the project? What impact has the project had on problem comprehension – and on the acceptance of changes in the regulation of the channels?

The measurements: What do they measure? How do they do it? What do they do with the data? Who will be able to see the data? Which platform can they view data on?

The presentation will be held in English.

After the presentation, a number of questions raised in chat tracks are answered during the webinar. In the chat track, the language is optional English, Danish or Swedish.

To join, request a link from Nina Berg Jørgensen NIBJ@kl.dk