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

Adapting to the Climate of the Future

Ideas for further action

Read the recommendations for specific action in the Academy of Technical Sciences report
"Effects of climate change – adaptation in Denmark" (only available in Danish: "Effekter af klimaændringer – tilpasninger i Danmark") background report, September 2003. Available on the website: www.atv.dk

Use the results of the Board of Technology project "New climate – new life? ".
In February 2003 the Danish Board of Technology hosted two scenario workshops at the coastal towns of Næstved and Esbjerg, gathering a number of local stakeholders in a discussion on future planning of the two local areas – on the assumption that they will face a 50 cm sea-level rise. The workshops tested a method to be used by local and regional authorities in order to drive forward the debate and the planning activities in the parts of Denmark that will be affected by an increasing sea level. Read more (in Danish) on the website: www.tekno.dk or phone (+45) 33 32 05 03.

Use the knowledge we have on the future climate in Denmark
The results of the DMI monitoring are very useful. See for instance the DMI climate modelling website (in Danish): www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/viden/klimamodeller.htm, and (in English): http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/climat.htm

In the years to come the DMI will contribute to assembling the knowledge required to understand the mechanisms underlying the climate of the future, regionally and locally. The aim is to map the climate of the 21st century, and to better understand the importance of the climate for the development of Danish society. The DMI will work closely together with other research institutions in Denmark and Europe.

Follow the activities of the Danish Climate Forum
The DMI has for a number of years organised a number of climate forums or workshops, focussing on short and longterm climate variations over both short and long time spans, and on exchange of information and cooperation between Danish climate experts. For further information, see the DMI website (in Danish): www.dmi.dk

Visit the Danish Coastal Authority website:
www.kyst.dk (in Danish)

Look for material at the UKCIP – UK Climate Impact Programme
Climate change and adaptation website: www.ukcip.org.uk

Read about the action taken by the Aalborg Municipality and sewerage department "How to avoid flooded basements" (in Danish: "Vand i kælderen"). Leaflet published by the sewerage department and Aalborg Municipality. Read the leaflet (in Danish) on the website: www.aalborg.dk

"Storm surge of sewerage – emergency cases" (in Danish: "Opstuvet kloakvand – skadeservicefirmaer fortæller hvor!"). By Mads Uggerby, NIRAS, and Bo Laden, Aalborg Municipality, Sewerage Department, in the magazine DanskVand, no. 8/2003.

A project on the climate change implications for nature in the Nordic countries, with recommendations for specific action, is being carried out by the National Environmental Research Institute and financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers. According to plans the project will be completed in the summer of 2005.

Other sources used in this leaflet:

cCASHh (climate Change and Adaptation Strategies for Human health in Europe). WHO project on health and adaptation to climate change: http://www.euro.who.int/ccashh
The human health consequences of storm surge in Europe and the implications for public health: a review of the evidence. Applied Environmental Science and Public Health, 2003, vol.1, No. 1.
Danish EPA website on climate issues: www.mst.dk. See "Climate & Air" and "Climate".
Discussion paper on a climate strategy for Denmark. The Danish Government. February 2003. Download the document on the Ministry of Finance website (in Danish): www.fm.dk. Search "Publikationer".
"Global warming – management and adaptation" (in Danish: "Den globale opvarmning. Bekæmpelse og tilpasning"). by Anne Mette K. Jørgensen, Kirsten Halsnæs and Jes Fenger. Gads Forlag, 2002.
Technical report, NERI, no. 401. "Danish adaptation to climate change" (in Danish: "Dansk tilpasning til et ændret klima"). By Jes Fenger and Povl Frich.
IPCC Third Assessment Report – Climate
Change 2001