Debatcentrum Pakhuis Oost, in close cooperation with the Werkgroep Regiometropool Twente, the Twentse Noabers and the new Twente media platform TKKR, is organizing a series of thematic meetings on the future of the region. The aim is - under the name Panorama Twente 2050 - to create a joint agenda in dialogue with the inhabitants of Twente and to create the broadest possible support for the major tasks Twente will face in the coming decades.
The first meeting of the series is on how the Twente region may deal with increasing droughts and intense rain events in the coming decades.
Guest speakers are Stefan Kuks (Water Authority Vechtstromen) and Maarten Krol (University of Twente). After introductions in which the speakers shared their insights, visitors and speakers discussed challenges and societal dilemma's.
The meeting was moderated by 1Twente journalist Niels Veurink and was visited by aabout 30 inhabitants of the region.
The meeting discussed foreseeable climate change in Twente, impacts on water resources with focus on regional and urban inundations and water shortages under drought. Options of the Water Authority to resolve problems were confronted with possible directions of societal choices, and the urgency of timely response.