Notwithstanding its new found political importance, climate change, and specifically its impact on everyday life, undoubtedly remains a pressing 'practical' issue for millions of individuals and private firms.
This reality has already led many communities and authorities to react. In this issue of the Journal of Nordregio, we are happy to highlight a variety of examples where steps have been taken to address this issue.
Most of the presentations herein are results of the Nordregio project Municipal Responses to Climate Change Emergencies (MuniRes). This is an international project with partners and associates from Denmark, Germany, Finland, Italy, Lithuania and Sweden.
The project was funded by the European Commission, Directorate-General Environ-ment, Directorate A - Communication, Legal Affairs and Civil Protection, ENV.A.3 - Civil Protection. Their representatives have been a source of both encouragement and enlightenment throughout the course of the study, something which we readily appreciate.
Bundled with this issue of the Journal of Nordregio you should also receive the publication, Climate Change Emergencies and European Municipalities—Guidelines for Adaptation and Response. Our hope is that this will be both useful and inspirational for those developing further work on climate adaptation. We would very much appreciate reader feedback on this publication.
Climate change in our part of the world, particularly in respect of flooding, is often perceived as a temporary problem. Basements are filled with dirty water and traffic is brought to a temporary halt, which is irritating enough you may say. Often more important, however, is the damage done to the underground infrastructure of modern cities and towns; sewage and drainage systems, water supply pipes, electricity, telephone and IT-communications etc., are all significantly impacted. Repairing such installations after a major flooding incident is usually a very costly and complicated process.
As such, it is now encouraging to see the many initiatives being taken to improve society's physical planning in relation to such hazards, in particular at the local and municipal levels. Moreover, national authorities, for the most part, at least, now seem to be aware of what lies ahead in public policy terms. The question remains, however, as to whether regional authorities are sufficiently integrated into this new approach.
At the same time, it is clear that much of the activity undertaken by authorities on all levels has thus far concentrated on climate mitigation in the short-term, perhaps to the detriment of vital long-term adaptation measures. Not enough attention is given to the probability of stronger winds and heavier rain, as compared, for example, to reducing energy use. This is further discussed in the article Overcoming Swedish uncertainty on p. 19.
It is also suggested that in many municipalities climate adaptation does not feature on the agenda until male decision-makers realise its true importance. The article on Climate change and gender on p. 20 debates this issue.
A fundamental element in any political debate on change is who pays for what. Climate adaptation is no exception. Insurance companies have probably, at least so far, accepted damage caused by 'natural' hazards such as flooding under the rubric of force majeur. One does not need to be a fortune-teller, however, to predict that this is likely to change as the insurance bills continue to mount up. As such, the costs incurred are increasingly likely to be borne by property-owners and the public authorities.
Climate change challenges everyone, irrespective of wealth and social standing. The balance is not the same everywhere, though. In Bangladesh, for example, it is the poorest segment of the population that generally has to pay the largest price for the continual flooding that characterises the region.
In recent years, most Nordic towns and cities have seen the extensive development of housing, shopping and office plots in attractive seaside locations. Given future climate patterns, however, it will be interesting to see how the authorities and, more importantly perhaps, the insurance companies react to climate-change-related damage claims from the occupants of such locations.
Odd Iglebaek, Editor