Why the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is set to last at least 100 years

Sea levels are rising, some say by metres, showers are getting heavier and river discharges are increasing. The media are full of it. And the 2021 summer high water in the Meuse River seems to confirm this picture. But is it true? And why is no one actually asking? Are we all parroting and talking each other into doomsday scenarios?

Hessel Voortman shows that it's not all that bad. The doom stories often turn out to be based on projections and as far as real events go, the link to climate change turns out to be weak. Moreover, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has revised its projections downwards in its latest reports; although hardly anyone has read it yet.

So what to do? Hessels' driving force is "Making wise decisions for an unknown future" and has been doing independent research on this since 2010. In his lecture, he shows how we can make rational decisions about water safety even when the future is uncertain. He shows what the real latest insights from climate science are. Finally, he shows that what we actually measure is a lot less bad than the projections of the climate (from the KNMI and others) would have us believe.

Hessel Voortman received his PhD in Water Safety from TU Delft (2003; supervisor Prof J.K. Vrijling) and worked for more than 18 years as a consultant and project manager for engineering firm Arcadis. He carried out hydraulic engineering projects worldwide, including many water safety projects. Since 2021, he has been director-owner of Hessel Voortman Engineering Consultancy B.V. As an independent expert, he operates at the interface of science, policy and implementation. He supports public and private clients with high-quality, knowledge-driven advice. He also conducts in-house research on climate, sea level and decision-making under uncertainty. He is an expert reviewer of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The drinks reception will start at 18:00 and the meal will follow punctually at 19:00.

Further information or registration can be obtained via: kringrotterdam@kivi.nl