This is how we learn to live with water in Limburg: young people look back on their conversation with Frans Timmermans
In response to the 2021 floods in parts of Dutch Limburg, Germany and Belgium, Studio Europa, together with the European Commission and the Municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul, organised ‘Living with water in Limburg: Limburg youngsters in conversation with Frans Timmermans on climate adaptation‘. In the Valkenburg Polfermolen café on Saturday, 15 July 2023, more than 50 young people from Limburg participated in this event.
How can we better prepare for future floods? What role can young people play in climate adaptation?
To discuss this issue, the young people got into small groups and formulated questions for Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Green Deal responsible Frans Timmermans and the other administrators present: Mayor of Valkenburg Daan Prevoo, Valkenburg Alderman Niels Dauven and Limburg politicians Elianne Demollin-Schneiders (BBB) and Jasper Kuntzelaers (PvdA).
In this blog post, moderators Nathalie Obrusnik, Willem Grootoonk, Lisanne van Oosterhoud, Laura de Vries, Fons Janssen and Yzée Laheij share their impressions of the event.
Young people have a lot of ideals, but they have less need than my generation for an ideology into which those ideals fit. I think political structures need to adapt to that. One should not expect young people to be ‘so’ mature at some point that they become like the older generation. We can only solve this if we become more like young people.
– Frans Timmermans during ‘Living with water in Limburg’
Floods in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion
In July 2021, there was widespread flooding in the Meuse basin in Dutch Limburg, Germany and Belgium. In the affected area, homes became uninhabitable, many businesses suffered major damage and there were fatalities in Germany and Belgium.
Exactly two years after this natural disaster, the European Union declared 15 July an official EU commemoration day for the victims of the global climate crisis. One of the signatories was Frans Timmermans. On the occasion of this commemoration, Timmermans visited the affected towns of Chaudfontaine (Belgium), Eschweiler (Germany) and Valkenburg aan de Geul (Netherlands). Valkenburg was one of the hardest hit areas in Dutch Limburg.
Biggest takeaways
1. Climate adaptation requires cooperation in Europe and the Euregion
What do young people think?
Cooperation between European countries and the Euregion is essential to face future problems. More cooperation requires bridging language and cultural differences and reducing bureaucracy. Not only administrative consultations are important, but also bringing young people together with administrators to create a dialogue. For example, young people from the Meuse basin who have experienced the effects of climate change firsthand.
What did Frans Timmermans say about this?
Frans Timmermans indicated that the European Green Deal provides a platform to strengthen cooperation between young people and governments on green issues. He challenged young people to come up with their own initiatives and present them to governments. He also underlined the importance of direct participation in which administrators make concrete agreements with young people, including providing feedback.
2. Limburg youths are willing to take their role in climate adaptation
What do young people think?
During the discussion, it became clear that many young people are willing to form a leading group to drive change. They recognise that we cannot remain stuck in the past. To promote a proactive approach, however, it is important that the aftermath of the floods is not swept under the carpet and affected people are given mental and financial support to overcome the consequences.
What did Frans Timmermans say about this?
Frans Timmermans agreed that it is difficult to plan ahead when you are stuck in the past. Timmermans spoke to several people who experienced the water disaster as traumatic. For them, the events do not feel like two years ago but like yesterday. He explained that the EU is helping governments gather best practices and develop preparedness plans to help both people planning for the future and those still suffering the consequences of past natural disasters.
3. Governments can take even more responsibility
What do young people think?
When it comes to climate action, young people are not only an important voice but also an important ally. To turn intentions into actions, good communication and facilitation are essential. There are many projects, programmes and networks, from local to global levels, that are not well coordinated. Multi-level governance is lacking in pooling and communicating information and action perspectives. In addition, it is important to promote opportunity equality among Limburg youth.
What did Frans Timmermans say about this?
Frans Timmermans also sees a new European generation emerging that, motivated by ideals as well as crisis awareness, feels compelled to act. According to him, this generation does not want to think in boxes, but wants to tackle problems holistically. Yet political parties and governments still often operate in separate compartments. Timmermans challenges young people to bring about change from within by becoming politically active. In addition, he also believes that the old political structures need to start moulding themselves to the younger generations. However, Timmermans also sees a group of young people who are not socially involved in issues such as climate change. For our democracy, it is important to keep talking to these young people as well.
How international is the Meuse?
Why is multi-level governance so important precisely on the topic of climate adaptation and water policy? The catchment area of the Meuse and its tributaries covers the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Extreme rainfall caused the Meuse to burst its banks back in the 1990s. The Netherlands then adopted the ‘Room for the River‘ approach, which prevented further suffering in the Netherlands in 2021. The affected areas in Germany and Belgium are now also looking at this strategy. Weather extremes will become more frequent. Here, cross-border cooperation within the entire catchment area of the international Meuse is essential.
Annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis
Saturday, 15 July 2023 marked the first official EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis. This annual day will serve to commemorate victims in Europe and worldwide and raise awareness of concrete steps people can take to help prevent disasters and be better prepared to respond to climate disasters.
Taking action yourself?
Events like this are of great importance for young people to get to know each other and governments better. Many participants indicated that they had not previously had the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with other young people or administrators in Limburg. The young people shared experiences of how their grandparents had to be evacuated or how their parents are still dealing with the bureaucracy of insurers and governments regarding damages. They feel motivated to do something about climate change which will hit younger generations hardest in the long run. This dialogue is a first step.
How can you play a role in climate adaptation? The event’s discussion leaders offer some tips as to how you can get involved:
- Together EU and Model European Parliament Limburg involve young people in the European Union;
- Jong RES Limburg represents young people in politics and government and advocates for a sustainable energy transition;
- Het Groene Toekomst Collectief is a group of young people from Limburg who share a passion for climate, environment and nature and work together for a green future;
- Jongeren Netwerk Limburg is a network organisation that strengthens the position of young people in Limburg and supports youth participation projects;
- The European Climate Pact is recruiting new ambassadors from September 2023;
- ‘Mayors for a Drinkable Meuse’ will take place in Maaseik in May 2024. Here, many mayors and administrators will come together to commit to a clean Meuse;
- On Saturday, 25 November, participant Rubia Korstanje and Natuurkracht will organise a Planting Day at the Vrouwenheide in Simpelveld. Sign up via email or WhatsApp (+31 6 1968 1097).
Authors
This piece reflects the opinions and findings of the facilitators and moderators of the event with Frans Timmermans on 15 July 2023: Nathalie Obrusnik, Willem Grootoonk, Lisanne van Oosterhoud, Laura de Vries, Fons Janssen and Yzée Laheij.
Photos of the event
