WORKING GROUPS

The North Sea

The Think Thank North Sea is working on a widely supported long-term vision 2050 for the Belgian part of the North Sea. In 2018, two working groups worked on the themes « Working with nature » and « Living with climate change ». They are now coming up with recommendations and core principles that stakeholders can already take into account in their operations today in order to guarantee a bright future for our part of the North Sea in 2050. The findings and recommendations of the two working groups are presented in concise and nicely illustrated vision texts. Everyone can start applying them in his or her field now! Whether you are a citizen, a scientist, a policy maker or working in industry.


Living with climate change

KICK-OFF 2019

Chaired by Tina Mertens (VLIZ)
Rapporteurs: Hannelore Maelfait (Province of West Flanders) & Steven Dauwe (VLIZ)

Belgium ranks tenth worldwide in terms of vulnerability to higher sea levels. Within the working group « Living with climate change », representatives from the quadruple helix (policy, industry, science, society) philosophised together on the main concerns that will prevent a liveable, safe coastal zone by 2050. These concerns were then linked to concrete action points, applicable to different organisational levels.

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Working with nature

KICK-OFF 2019

Chaired by Steven Degraer (RBINS)
Rapporteurs: Chantal Martens (VLIZ) & Kris Hostens (ILVO)

Working with nature offers interesting opportunities for the future exploitation of marine ecosystem services. Provided there is focus and good planning at all levels, working with nature can be an integral part of the business plan for all human activities at sea by 2050. The vision text elaborates on three concrete examples, thus demonstrating the width of possibilities for building with nature at sea: natural coastal defense, multi-trophic aquaculture and nature-inclusive offshore construction.

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The North Sea Vision for 2050

In 2017, three thematic working groups formed the basis of the North Sea Vision 2050 :
Naturalness, Blue Economy and Multiple Use of Space.

Vision : NL - FR

Naturalness

KICK-OFF 2018
 Naturalness

Chaired by: Steven Degraer

This working group considers how, in the future, we should handle naturalness in the Belgian section of the North Sea. What are the opportunities in the areas of impact mitigation, conservation and remediation, and are there any new opportunities to create naturalness?

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Blue Economy and Innovation

KICK-OFF 2018
 Blue Economy and Innovation

Chaired by: Gert Verreet

This working group has formed a vision for the future use of the North Sea. What are the man drivers for change behind the Blue Economy and what trends do we identify in terms of future innovation?

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Multiple Use of Space

KICK-OFF 2018
 Multiple Use of Space

Chaired by: Frank Maes

This working group has assessed the major principles and mechanisms that could, in the future, lead to the better planning and more efficient use of the scarce space in the Belgian section of the North Sea. What synergies exist between different user functions within the precondition of naturalness?

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