On September 11, 2007, a group of 70 practitioners, policymakers, researchers and other actors met in Helsinki to discuss one the most challenging and important issues on the current global agenda – climate change, and particularly adaptation to the effects of a changing climate. This conference, entitled, Planning for Climate Change: The Adaptation Challenge – A Nordic Perspective, organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordregio, Nordic Centre for Spatial Development, examined the challenges and opportunities inherent in climate change adaptation in the Nordic Countries and how planning and political processes can deal with these imperatives.