Earlier this year, MSc student Elise Holubek from the University of Twente completed her research on how climate change-driven floods and droughts challenge water governance in the Dutch Vecht basin. Her work, carried out in the scope of JCAR ATRACE, focused on adaptive governance—an approach that enables actors, networks, and institutions to evolve and respond flexibly under changing conditions and uncertainty.
Elise examined how different actors within the governance system adapted their roles and used knowledge during flood and drought events. By analysing these interactions, her study identified opportunities to strengthen adaptive governance and improve resilience in the face of increasing extremes.
“What made working with JCAR ATRACE special was that, although it was my own research, I was never alone,” Elise explained. “I was surrounded by enthusiastic and knowledgeable people who supported me and shared a common goal. It was inspiring to see what others were working on and to exchange ideas.”
Her main takeaway? Risk perception differed among actors, which affected the effectiveness of responses—especially for droughts, where definitions and risks remained unclear. Elise emphasised the urgency of addressing these differences to improve collaborative water management.
Through her work, Elise contributed to building governance systems that are more adaptive, inclusive, and prepared for future climate challenges.
Discover Elise’s research thesis here.
