Since the climate is drastically changing, it is extremely important than humans adapt to this. Adaptive capability refers to the ability of a system or community to adapt to the effects or impacts of climate change. Various studies found that there is an immediate need to implement adaptation strategies because in the case nothing changes the Netherlands will face several drastic consequences within 1 to 3 decades already.

The Netherlands succeeds in their adaptation regarding climate change because they successfully adapted their (water) management strategies. This helps the country moderate the possible damages, take advantage of the consequences or ability to cope with these consequences. Before adapting the policies, various consequences of climate change have been documented in various reports. The Netherlands adapted their systems on various aspects:

• Technical solutions
• Improved control and risk management systems: education, communication, consciousness raising, and, institutional reform)
• Improved spatial planning: the Deltaworks

First of all, it is important to create transparency on the responsibilities and tasks of various authorities, companies and other stakeholders. Improved cooperation between the government and stakeholders in new alliances leads automatically to improved coping capability. Make sure the roles of all parties are clearly defined in dealing with the impacts of climate change. However, there are several sectors that need to be capable of adaptation.

One of the main sectors is security, this mainly includes water management. It is necessary to improve evacuation routes and plans, this also refers to better communication and education of the residents of vulnerable areas. Research has found that consciousness raising is extremely important to prepare the Dutch society to climate change.

Regarding direct water management, in the near future, additional dikes can be considered to reduces possible damages. The Dutch institutions also have to monitor and control of the available cooling water. Because when this is depleted, it can interfere with optimal electricity generation. When electricity is not managed well, this can lead to serval security risks.