| The Netherlands faces a series of formidable challenges to sustainable economic and societal development in the coming decades. These include: - geohazards posed by the combined effects of climate change, sea level rise and surface subsidence; - dwindling subsurface resources such as gas, oil and clean groundwater; and - intense pressure to reduce CO2 emissions, notably by underground sequestration. To address these challenges, the ability to quantitatively monitor and predict the long-term behaviour of the Dutch subsurface and its impact at the surface of the delta system is crucial. The Netherlands Research Centre for Integrated Solid Earth Sciences (ISES) is developing an initiative aimed at soliciting support from industry and governmental research agencies for a new research programme to tackle such issues. The programme is aimed at integrating solid earth monitoring and prediction studies to provide key input needed for planning and decision making in relation to geohazards, subsurface resource exploitation and sustainability in the Dutch delta system. The knowledge gained will have high export potential. An initial five-year research programme is envisaged, with subsequent cyclic revision and renewal, depending on impact and needs. |
