Each newsletter, you get to meet one of our 10 partners. This time: the municipality of Middelburg, one of the Green Team lighthouses.
Written by Maxime Rekkers
Who are you?
“I am Michel Joosse, and I have been working at the municipality of Middelburg since 2006. I started in a more technical role, focused on civil engineering and infrastructure projects. Over time, my work shifted, and green public spaces and climate adaptation became an additional task of our team. We cover all public spaces, except mobility and buildings. Making our living environment more climate resilient is one of our main goals. And these days, I am often the go-to person for colleagues with questions about this."
Why did Middelburg join the Green Team project?
“We have been working on climate adaptation for quite a few years — both in project implementation and in policy. Our plans are becoming greener and more integrated. But the structural embedding within the organisation was still lacking. Most results depended on the motivation of individual colleagues. That is not sustainable in the long run. The Green Team project appealed to us because it focuses exactly on that: making climate adaptation a shared task across the entire organisation.”
What have you enjoyed most about the project so far?
“The international exchange! It is fascinating to see how local governments in different countries approach the same challenges. In the Netherlands, we tend to move quickly — we ‘run like the fire brigade’ from one task to another. In Germany, it is slower to start, but once they move, it is very structured. And Belgian partners again have a different way of steering things, often with strong provincial support. You really learn from those contrasts.”
What are you currently working on, and what are you looking forward to?
“We have launched our internal Green Team and held a first meeting. It is a long-term process — changing an organisation does not happen overnight. We are now exploring how to include climate adaptation at the very start of each project, right when objectives are defined. That’s when you can make the biggest impact.
We are also excited to host the upcoming Green Team partner meeting in Middelburg. It will be a great opportunity to show our project partners what we have done so far in Middelburg, and exchange ideas with each other.”
When will this project be a success for you?
“When climate adaptation becomes embedded in the way we work — and not just a topic for a few enthusiastic individuals. We have started planting the seeds, and it is great to see colleagues picking it up in their own way. Sometimes they surprise you with ideas you had not thought of. That is when you know something is growing.”
Michel at a Green Team workshop in Middelburg.