Samenvatting

Heatwaves are expected to increase in the future due to climate change. Heatwaves cause heat stress to humans and some of the effects are dehydration and hyperthermia. In general it is known what can be done to reduce heat stress. However, applying this knowledge on a local scale requires a clear overview of what factors need to be taken into account.
The goal of this research is to develop an adaptive action plan that can be used to reduce heat stress in Sint-Annaland, a village in the municipality of Tholen. In order to achieve this, the following research question was set up: What steps can be taken to mitigate and adapt to heat stress in Sint-Annaland by 2050?
To answer the research question, desk research was carried out, as well as focus groups and interviews with experts. A questionnaire was shared with inhabitants of Sint-Annaland to determine social feasibility of heat stress measures. The result of these research methods is a 7-step road map:
1. Determine the heat stress in an area using a heat stress map
2. Determine age of the population, insulation value of homes and locate risk groups (including elderly, those in care-centres, children and those in sporting facilities)
3. Create an overview showing heat stress in relation to the factors described in step two using GIS-Software
4. Determine the location where measures against heat stress are necessary and/or desirable
5. a. Determine per location what measures can be taken against heat stress
5. b. Determine for each measure per location what the heat reduction will be
5. c. Determine financial and social feasibility per measure for each location
6. a. Determine where water nuisance and drought are and what plans are in place to reduce this
6. b. Determine what plans there are for infrastructure (f.e. renovation plans)
7. Create an overview showing possible measures against stress per location with their impact, together with water nuisance, drought, and plans for those climate effects and plans for infrastructure, using GIS-Software.

Based on this, it is recommended to create cool spots throughout Sint-Annaland using large trees to create shadow. Further research can be done to investigate how cool spots can be designed in such a way that they reduce heat stress the most effectively. This can include the minimum size of a cool spot, the minimum amount of shade that should be there and what the dispersion of these cool spots should be.