Danish strategy for adaptation to a changing climate (Pdf)

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Increased precipitation is expected to affect the entire hydrological cycle. In the future increased runoff from the land will contribute to more stratification in the sea and will affect fishing. Photo: Anne Mette Jørgensen/DMI. Introduction Climate change is a reality, and an important part of global warming is due to human activity. A two-fronted effort is needed to counteract the impacts of anthropogenic climate change. On the one hand national and international agreements are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and on the other hand initiatives are needed to help society adapt to the future climate. The government's strategy focusses on the necessity of national adaptation to climate change. There are already a number of areas where it is relevant to consider adjustments that take future climate into account, including long-term investments and infrastructure planning. It can also be relevant to take the expected climate changes into account in contingency planning and in the health sector, for example, in connection with monitoring and warning systems. Climate change will take place gradually over an extended time horizon, and therefore the societal consequences will depend upon how society adapts, for example legislation, infrastructure and building to the expected changes. 6
Climate change will come to Denmark, but it is still uncertain to what extent and when. For example, it is expected that local sea levels will rise by between 0.45–1.05 m in connection with storm surges by the year 2100. Any given effort to adapt to climate change runs the risk of being either under-scaled and insufficient or over-scaled and unnecessary, taking resources from other priority areas. How adaptation efforts should be designed will be the result of considering the consequences of climate change, the likelihood of their occurrence and the costs of prevention. In this context, attention must be paid to autonomous adaptation by the individual. Thus the basis of adaptation efforts can be compared to considering adequate insurance, where the cost of the premium and the risks of damage correspond. With this strategy, the government will provide a basis describing how the expected climatic changes could affect a number of areas. Such an overview allows for consideration of whether, and if so how and when public authorities, businesses and citizens should take the climate change into account and adapt, if necessary. Without a systematic foundation, there is a risk that the impacts of climate change will only enter into the planning process randomly. The goal of the strategy is that in future climate change should be considered and integrated into planning and development in the most appropriate way. The strategy contains a number of sight-lines to enable authorities, businesses and citizens to react promptly and autonomously to the challenges climate change will pose to Danish society. By autonomous adaptation we mean that authorities, businesses and private citizens react to the consequences of climate change in a timely manner within the legislative, economic and technological framework. The strategy focuses mainly on the general activities to be undertaken to ensure the process. At present we do not have sufficient knowledge to solve all the problems. Adaptation to climate change is a long-term process and it is still uncertain what the consequences of climate change will be, and how quickly they will take effect. Therefore the strategy will need to be continuously adjusted. The government's strategy for adaptation to climate change should be seen in connection with government efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions and adjusting to climate change are not either/or propositions; both are necssary. The government's strategy for adaptation to climate change focuses on the necessity of adaptation at national level. It should be noted, however, that in recent years the government has undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with respect to combating the increased greenhouse effect and consequent changes. The government has introduced an ambitious energy plan describing the goals of the Danish energy policy until 2025. The government has also presented a plan for meeting Denmark's reduction commitment of 21% of 1990 emissions; cf. Denmark's National Allocation Plan 2008–2012. Furthermore, Denmark will host the United Nations Climate Conference, COP 15, in 2009. The goal for this Conference of the Parties is to agree on a new, ambitious global climate agreement with participation of both the United States and countries with developing economies. Regardless of how ambitious a climate agreement the parties are able to negotiate, the consequences of the greenhouse gases already emitted and their accumulation in the atmosphere alone mean that adaptation to climate change is necessary. Therefore we must focus on nationwide adaptation to climate change. It is this situation that the strategy addresses. 7
Page 1: Danish strategy for adaptation to a
Page 4 and 5: Danish strategy for adaptation to a
Page 7: Foreword The UN Intergovernmental P
Page 11 and 12: The strategy includes a description
Page 13 and 14: with more heat waves and other heal
Page 15 and 16: Cross-sectoral Coordination Forum f
Page 17 and 18: If greenhouse gas emissions are not
Page 19 and 20: 3. Challenges in individual sectors
Page 21 and 22: Breakwaters lessen sand erosion and
Page 23 and 24: With regard to cooling, there is a
Page 25 and 26: There may be a need for planned ada
Page 27 and 28: Higher average temperatures are exp
Page 29 and 30: etween agriculture and the environm
Page 31 and 32: English Sundew is a typical raised
Page 33 and 34: With rising sea levels and higher s
Page 35 and 36: With increasing winter temperatures
Page 37 and 38: sewers, special materials for use a
Page 39 and 40: A new digital elevation model const
Page 41 and 42: Denmark has come a long way in accu
Page 43 and 44: 5. Research strategy Climate change
Page 45 and 46: Research programmes and councils re
Page 47 and 48: NERI/Aarhus University has already
Page 49: 6.2 Information centre on adaptatio

Danish strategy for adaptation to a changing climate (Pdf)

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