Implementing climate change adaptation and energy transition policies simultaneously through urban green infrastructure

In the Netherlands systemic risks are increasing due to urbanization, demographic changes, increasing climate change impacts, and a lag in renewable energy transition. Two policies addressing these issues are: the Climate Agreement to reduce CO2 emissions, and the Delta Plan Spatial Adaptation to protect the Netherlands against climate hazards. Simultaneous implementation can enable financial and environmental synergies, reduce construction time and materials, and reach consensus on spatial plans. Urban green infrastructure (UGI) has a key role in achieving these policy goals simultaneously through its benefits on these and other policies. This study shows how joint policy implementation through UGI can help the sustainable adaptation to climate hazards, and the local energy transition. Case studies show solutions and advantages of combining the implementation of these policy goals for UGI projects. This study also covers the benefits of combining these policy goals, as well as the remaining obstacles and research gaps.