In Amsterdam, the Cabinet of the Netherlands approved a 14-billion-euro increase in spending on water defenses and quality improvements over the next 20 years. Around two-thirds of the population lives below sea level, so although the Dutch system of dikes is expensive to maintain, it's stayed a top priority in the light of recent climate changes. The Royal Weather Institute predicted that if global warming continued at its current rate, sea level would rise by 15-35 cm by 2050. Climate models also predicted more rain in the Rhine River Basin, whose water runs through the Netherlands on its way to the sea. Both climate changes could lead to increased flood risks.