Experiences with the Climate Adaptation Measure from the financial sector
In collaboration with TAUW and BoschSlabbers, we supported the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management by mapping practical experiences with the national Climate Adaptation Measures for the Built Environment. Rebel conducted a financial and economic impact assessment.
The challenge
The Maatlat was published in March 2023. Now, a year later, it’s time to evaluate: Is the yardstick actually being used? What’s working well? What could be improved? And how can it help speed up climate-adaptive development in the built environment?
The approach
The Maatlat is a key tool in the transition to climate-resilient construction. In this project, Rebel specifically examined how the financial sector addresses climate risks and applies the Maatlat. Together with TAUW and BoschSlabbers, we explored practical experiences from four perspectives: policy, design, content, and finance.
From Rebel, we spoke with investors, developers, banks, and insurers to understand how climate risks are factored into property valuation, financing, and insurance. Interviews and workshops revealed a strong need within the sector for a clear, unified methodology. A shared framework is essential for structurally integrating climate adaptation into business cases and investment decisions.
Our analysis showed that climate adaptation can often be achieved without additional costs—provided the measures are integrated early in the development process. Location and timing of interventions are critical, as they influence land value and property prices both in the short and long term. When adjustments are made later in the process, they often result in higher costs and lower returns in land development.
It also became clear that climate adaptation is not yet properly reflected in housing values, which leads to suboptimal financial decisions. The EU taxonomy and the sustainability paragraph (DuPa) offer important starting points in this regard. The Maatlat can help bridge the gap by promoting standardisation of terms and criteria at the area level. Rebel therefore recommends positioning the Maatlat clearly in relation to existing financial frameworks and instruments.
The analysis of practical experiences offers valuable input for policy development. By combining financial insights with real-world examples from the construction and real estate sectors, we help shape a realistic and scalable approach to creating a climate-adaptive built environment.
Impact
With our insights, climate-adaptive development can be financially interesting.
The experience of a Rebel
