Exploring the relationship between public environmental ethics and river flood policies in western Europe

Two styles of river flood management can be distinguished: dike reinforcement and the more sustainable ‘Room for River’ option. This paper investigates public adherences to these two management styles and whether their adherence correlates with their Visions of Nature. The focus is especially on people’s image of the appropriate human/nature relationship, i.e. Mastery over nature, Stewardship of nature, Partnership of nature or Participation in nature. Other variables that are part of the analysis are the respondents’ sense of place, safety perception and background variables. The results of a written survey among riverside residents in France, Germany and the Netherlands (N = 1811) show high adherences to the Room for River style and a rejection of dike reinforcement. A regression analysis shows that adherence to the Room for River style correlates with adherence to the image of Stewardship, while adherence to dike reinforcement is predicted by Mastery over nature. Thus, according to the public a policy shift from dike reinforcement to a more sustainable style is seen as a fundamental one, connected to a change in environmental ethics.

► We report on a survey among the public in France, Germany and the Netherlands. ► We study the link between environmental ethics and opinions on river management. ► Adherences are high for the Room for River style and low for dike reinforcement. ► Adherence to the Room for River style correlates with adherence to Stewardship. ► The policy shift to Room for River connects to a change in environmental ethics.