Abstract

This report, Climate Change, a Permanent Concern, presents the results of research that was conducted in over 90 projects during the second phase of the National Research Programme on Global Air Pollution and Climate Change (NRP-II, 1995-2001). The report is intended for policymakers, members of business and societal organisations and interested members of the public.This report addresses the following questions arising from climate policy in the Netherlands: What new understanding is there about the climate system: what has been learned about climate variability, the causes of climate change and the role of human activities (detection and attribution). What are the possible consequences of climate change for the Netherlands in particular, but also for other regions (especially developing countries), and what possibilities are there for adaptation? What development paths are there to bring about reductions in emissions? What recommendations can be made for the Netherlands' national, international and local climate policies?