Blue deal Flanders
About this good practice
Among all European regions, Flanders tops the list in terms of water scarcity and drought risks. To combat this, the Flemish Governmùent has created the Blue Deal.
This program consists of more than 70 actions divided over 3 main themes: smart and sustainable water use, restoration of wetlands, and nature-based solutions.
In general, the actions aim to
(1) invest in sites for more green-blue infrastructure and water infiltration
(2) support investments made by (agricultural) companies, local authorities and (industry) associations
(3) improve legislation and its application and
(4) support initiatives with respect to research, monitoring, communication and awareness raising.
Among other actions, the Flemish government has set up different programmes to subsidize the desealing and greening of cities.
A main theme of the Blue Deal is the implementation of natural or nature-based solutions that combine green and blue elements. They contribute to the development of green-blue networks in the built up environment and in open spaces.
The main solutions the Blue Deal aims to contribute to is increasing resilience of the water systems against climate change by increasing water availability and by accelerating the change to an efficient, sustainable and circular water usage.
Rather than focusing on the causes, the Blue Deal aims to develop structural solutions.
Resources needed
The start budget was 75 millioneuro, in the meanwhile a budget of half a billion euro is provided for the Blue deal.
To conduct the blue deal a team has been set up at different levels and involving different departments and agencies of the Flemish Government
Evidence of success
3 years after the launch of the blue deal, the first results have been presented:
5000 ha new wetlands + 1.000 more in preparation
20 km rivers have been meanderend + 68 in preparation
30 billion liter water savings
48 little dams in agricultural land, 156 in preparation
Important is also that the blue deal is now a part of our Flemish legislation with a decree
Potential for learning or transfer
The Blue Deal in Flanders offers significant potential for transfer and learning to other European regions. Its integrated water management approach addresses both scarcity and flooding, making it adaptable to regions with similar challenges. The initiative's collaborative framework involves various stakeholders, ensuring broad support and expertise pooling. Innovative projects, such as decentralized water cycles and efficient soil management, demonstrate advanced, scalable solutions. Substantial financial investments and a robust monitoring framework ensure sustainability and continuous improvement. Policy integration aligns the Blue Deal with broader regional plans, providing a replicable model for embedding water management into governance structures. This comprehensive, innovative, and collaborative approach can inspire and guide other regions in enhancing their water resilience