Environmental Essay no.29 – Adapting to the Climate of the Future

Adapting to the Climate of the Future

Examples of adaptation

Planners and technical staff in counties and municipalities, owners of private forests, engineers, architects and physicians – all these experts and many more are involved in work in areas which – in some way or the other – may be affected by future climate change.

The task is now to integrate climate systematically as a parameter in long-term work, in line with other significant parameters that need to be taken into account. However, this is often only possible if politicians, management and top-level executives take the decisions required to allow the issue of climate change to be integrated in the work.

The examples given below show where it will be advisable to start thinking about climate change in daily work. But they do not give the answer to the question: how do we handle the situation in specific cases?

Different options will probably be available to adress both the problems described and other problems that might arise in the wake of climate change – both for nature and for humans. In any case, great benefits can be achieved by taking action now – money can be saved, damage can be avoided, conflicts can be prevented or minimised.