Addressing uncertainties at the interface between climate adaptation research and water management The case of the Netherlands

Human activities have caused global warming, with surface temperatures rising 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. In the Netherlands, climate change necessitates changes in infrastructure, water systems, and spatial planning. Water managers and researchers are developing climate adaptation strategies, yet decision-making at the interface between research and practice is complicated by various forms of uncertainty. This thesis investigates how uncertainties are addressed and boundary objecs are used in interactions between climate adaptation research and Dutch water management, particularly within co-existing and nested science-policy interfaces across spatial scales. The research, as described in this dissertation, aims to improve knowledge exchange and enhance the usability of climate adaptation research. A nested longitudinal case study was conducted, examining freshwater management in the Netherlands in detail from 2000 to 2014, with a forward-looking outlook extending to 2025. Eight interfaces were examined at national scale (The Netherlands), regional scale (Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Estuaries) and at farm level.