AN HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE VULNERABILITY OF THE NETHERLANDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: LIFE IN A CUT-AWAY

摘要

Peatlands provide a range of functions, goods, and services for society. Sometimes functions and services are conflicting, however. Peat mining in the past can have large externalities in the future, sometimes superimposed by externalities caused by more recent events, such as climate change. This study aims to assess environmental changes caused by peat mining in the Netherlands in the Late Middle Ages (1350-1550) and consequences for today's society in the light of climate change. It assesses Dutch vulnerability by using the IPCC framework based on three components of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Sensitivity and exposure increased in the Netherlands, but adaptive capacity was large. Trade profits and enlargement of labour force due to declining agriculture were able to overcome negative effects of peat mining and triggered technological developments, water management and the search for new sources of income. The study shows that the use of resources, such as peat, but also fossil or nuclear energy carriers, cause externalities in the future and requires assessment of options to reduce irreversible effects for future generations.