Comparison And Analysis Of National Climate Change Adaptation Policies In The Nordic Region

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-525/ This report presents the findings from a comparative study of climate change adaptation policy in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Based on a comparative analysis of the policy landscape, including legislative frameworks, policy instruments, and financing mechanisms, the report identifies best practices and main challenges as well as key factors influencing the progress of national adaptation. Despite considerable progress in several of the Nordic countries, the report identifies multiple challenges, including lack of systems for monitoring, reporting and evaluation, lack of sufficient funding and economic incentives and lack of appropriate tools and knowledge for aligning adaptation with other societal goals, such as mitigation and sustainable development. The report ends by suggesting ways to enhance adaptation in the Nordic countries.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-014/ This policy brief presents the findings from the report "Comparison and analysis of national adaptation policies in the Nordic region", along with a set of policy recommendations directed at public authorities in the Nordic countries. After summarizing key progress factors and best practices and main challenges, the policy brief presents five main recommendations: 1) reframe adaptation as transformation; 2) establish mechanisms for systematic knowledge generation and develop appropriate indicators; 3) break down silo-structure between sectors and develop a clearly articulated policy cycle; 4) enhance adaptation financing and economic incentive mechanisms and translate knowledge on risks and vulnerabilities to local adaptation measures; 5) enhance the political mandate for adaptation and strengthen international commitments, including through Nordic collaboration.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-017/ The 6th Nordic Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, NOCCA23, took place in Reykjavik, Iceland in April 2023. The focus of the conference was on ways to accelerate mainstreaming of adaptation at the municipal level in the Nordics. Four themes were studied: sea level rise, transboundary climate risks, nature-based solutions, and local master planning. The conference explored the current state of adaptation as well as actions implemented in the Nordic countries and the challenges, opportunities, and learnings from the implementation process. The role of different actors was discussed, and how engagement with the community is paramount to success. Finally, the role of the Nordic Council in accelerating adaptation measures within the Nordic region and beyond was discussed. The results have been summarized into a policy brief capturing the thrust of the discussion of the conference.

Climate change is expected to have a profound impact on natural resources, and thus on the primary industries (agriculture, forestry and fisheries) in the Nordic countries. Climate change induces risks but also creates possibilities for new production systems on land and in the ocean. Climatic changes also represent great challenges for policy-making and management regimes. The current knowledge base on natural resources in the Nordic region needs to be expanded to fully address the impacts of climate change. In particular it is important to address the need for improved policies and new policy instruments. The research programme Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation in Nordic Primary Industries is a coordinated set of thematic research networks with the objective to create a Nordic knowledge base on climate change interactions with primary industries in the Nordic region.

This booklet presents actions taken by the Nordic countries to speed the transition to a sustainable low-carbon society. It shows how sustainable development is possible, with strong climate policies contributing to economic growth and job creation as well as environmental improvements. The Nordic countries successfully demonstrate how ambitious climate change mitigation targets and policies can be combined with high levels of human development.

Nordic municipalities can have a significant impact on creating a more climate-friendly Nordic region. This study gathers valuable information about climate change management in Nordic municipalities and gives a general view to the local climate work in Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The study aims at recognising the success factors and needs for support in Nordic local climate change work. It is based on a web survey conducted between October 2011 and February 2012, with an overall response rate of 37 %. The study shows that Nordic municipalities are actively working for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Commonalities in the success factors and challenges are found in the study; however, there is no 'one size fits all' solution, because the countries differ in many respects - the national framework conditions being the most crucial difference.