Mapping climate change - barriers and opportunities for action

More documents

Recommendations

Info

magnitudes. The Danish Road Directorate is working on managing climate change impacts on the basis of performance requirements. This involves preparing an action plan for climate change adaptation on the basis of the Ministry of Transport's climate change adaptation strategy which contains targets and a milestone plan as well as a "declaration of services" concerning the availability of the transport infrastructure. The Danish Road Directorate is maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the municipalities on road regulatory work. The most recent knowledge, which the Danish Road Directorate has either developed itself or procured from external providers, will be included in this work and will therefore benefit the municipalities as well as the Directorate. The Directorate and the municipalities are also cooperating via SAMKOM, a cooperation forum for public technical administrations, which involves benchmarking and knowledge-sharing activities. Rail Net Denmark is analysing road-related incidents, establishing warning systems and analysing the need to incorporate climate change adaptation in planning new rail installations. Furthermore, for the entire area under the Ministry of Transport, work is being carried out to manage climate change impacts on the basis of performance requirements. This involves preparing an action plan for climate change adaptation on the basis of the Ministry of Transport's climate change adaptation strategy. Water For wastewater, regulations aimed at minimising the negative effects of flooding are being developed. As a general rule, the water utility companies can finance the necessary investments and maintenance for the sewerage system via wastewater charges. It would be relevant to assess whether the water utility companies have the required tools and incentives to adapt to climate change through e.g. investments in maintenance and expansion of the sewerage system. Amongst other things, this should be seen in light of the relationship between depreciation periods and loan repayment periods. Finally, it would be relevant to assess whether alternatives exist outside the area financed through charges to enhance the capacity for diverting surface and wastewater costeffectively, including letting private citizens manage the water on their own land. The current rules on financing through charges provide only limited possibilities for financing such initiatives through wastewater treatment charges. This is to ensure that water consumers only pay for the costs that relate to wastewater management. At the same time, pursuant to the 2011 government programme, municipalities are obliged to prepare municipal climate change adaptation plans within two years. For groundwater, increased groundwater recharge will change the conditions for future water supply in the form of increased groundwater resources and in the form of e.g. increased groundwater recharge in the uppermost soil layers which leads to enhanced risk of groundwater flooding, and longer periods of drought which may require changing the catchment area. With regard to groundwater protection, efforts have been launched regarding protection zones around wells, and the need for climate change adaptation has also been incorporated in these efforts. A number of legislative acts and schemes contribute to protecting groundwater resources. In this area, there is a need to incorporate climate change adaptation as a consideration in public administration and in any amendments to the legislative basis. Existing groundwater models and other tools are deemed adequate to monitor the challenges arising from climate change, as long as data on the future climate are available. Agriculture Increases in temperature may lead to increases in productivity for agriculture if the adaptation of agriculture that is already ongoing continues. In this context it might be relevant to consider adjusting the regulations on the use of pesticides in agriculture, as the increases in temperature may 8
encourage plant diseases and, in particular, pests. More extreme precipitation may promote more run-off of nutrients, which might make it relevant to consider making adjustments in the regulation of the use of fertilizer in agriculture. More extreme weather events with flooding or drought are a challenge for agriculture, which will be amplified by the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. Farming of vulnerable, low-lying land will become unprofitable and alternative uses of the land may be considered. Several initiatives are under way which will enhance knowledge about the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture as a consequence of climate change, and it would be relevant to focus more on how agriculture can exploit climate change and avoid the negative effects. Forestry An important measure to ensure the resilience of Danish forests against climate change is to ensure that they are able to regenerate on their own. Several different tree species suited to the local environment must be present in the forest. Close-to-nature forest management is one way of achieving this. Danish state-owned forests are now being managed according to the principles of close-to-nature forest management. The transition to close-to-nature practices in private forests can be promoted by using different instruments, such as advisory services. Fisheries Rising sea temperatures, in particular, have already affected the fisheries industry, and the impacts on this industry are expected to increase in future. The spread and the size of populations of different fish species will come under pressure. New species and population combinations will require ongoing adaptation of fishing vessels as well as the industry itself. With new species, it may be necessary to monitor developments to provide the required scientific foundation for adapting and developing the fisheries management system. In order to improve the knowledge base, tools may have to be developed to quantify and qualify the significance of climate change for the marine food chains, ecosystems, fish stocks and sustainable use of these. Energy In practice, climate change will not have any considerable effect on Danish energy supply. The most important impact is assessed to be reduced energy consumption due to milder winters. Existing energy-producing facilities will be able to cope with the predicted climate change in their remaining life span, and it is estimated there will be no need for special initiatives aimed at energyproducing facilities. It is likely that the energy-supply-related climate change adaptation efforts will be directed primarily at limiting energy consumption for cooling. Tourism The potential for tourism in Denmark may increase as a consequence of higher average temperatures. It is assessed there will be no need for special initiatives. Adaptation efforts will be managed by the industry itself and by the relevant authorities in connection with routine tasks. Adaptation efforts will take place mainly through adjustments to strategies for tourism as well as through investment in new facilities and adaptation of existing facilities to cope with changes in rainfall, coastal landscapes etc. Nature Climate change will affect the Danish aquatic environment in a number of areas. However, knowledge is still insufficient as to what impacts climate change will have on the targets and efforts set out for the aquatic environment pursuant to the Water Framework Directive. The next 9
Page 1: Mapping climate change - barriers a
Page 5 and 6: 1. Introduction Climate change will
Page 7: From a central-government perspecti
Page 11: sectors and industries. A legislati
Page 14 and 15: the same or at a greater level than
Page 16 and 17: Winter 1.5 ºC (± 0.2 ºC) 3.5 ºC
Page 18 and 19: from increased wind conditions, the
Page 20 and 21: Frosty days The number of days in a
Page 22 and 23: 4. Climate change impacts, and barr
Page 24 and 25: 4.1 Physical infrastructure 4.1.1 C
Page 26 and 27: Owners of buildings could also bene
Page 28 and 29: Public construction and public buil
Page 30 and 31: Summary The construction and housin
Page 32 and 33: fairways and/or port basins are dre
Page 34 and 35: Directive. The coastal conference w
Page 36 and 37: 4.1.3 Transport Roads, bridges, tun
Page 38 and 39: out that linear drainage is better
Page 40 and 41: may be realigned. The Danish Road D
Page 42 and 43: embankments in the event of long pe
Page 44 and 45: 4.1.4 Water Water plays an importan
Page 46 and 47: A proposal for an amendment of the
Page 48 and 49: More precipitation means higher ann
Page 50 and 51: context it will be relevant to acco
Page 52 and 53: 4.2 Business sectors 4.2.1 Agricult
Page 54 and 55: aspects are influenced by climate c
Page 56 and 57: The increased risk of losses of nit
Page 58 and 59:
4.2.2 Forestry Forests are the natu
Page 60 and 61:
New forests adapted to future clima
Page 62 and 63:
4.2.3 Fisheries Climate changes, in
Page 64 and 65:
the Ministry of Food, Agriculture a
Page 66 and 67:
4.2.4 Energy Climate change will af
Page 68 and 69:
An increase in summer temperatures
Page 70 and 71:
Possibilities for adaptation Adapta
Page 72 and 73:
The most important impacts for the
Page 74 and 75:
Not only along coasts but also in l
Page 76 and 77:
Noticeable improvement in condition
Page 78 and 79:
4.3.2 Human health The health-relat
Page 80 and 81:
The Danish Health and Medicines Aut
Page 82 and 83:
in these efforts, as the health ser
Page 84 and 85:
events. Nordic and EU agreements ex
Page 86 and 87:
Barriers and opportunities for futu
Page 88 and 89:
property. In the city of Odense, th
Page 90 and 91:
Barriers and opportunities for futu
Page 92 and 93:
flooding or other damage that may p
Page 94 and 95:
5. Socio-economic climate change ad
Page 96 and 97:
Kolding Municipality - assessing wa
Page 98:
In principle, all consequences shou
show all

Mapping climate change - barriers and opportunities for action

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?