Climate change vulnerability and adaptation activities in Norway

Else Løbersli, EIONET workshop

Brussel, July 1, 2010

Ongoing activities

1. The Norwegian Climate Change Adaptation Programme

2. The Norwegian Climate Change Adaptation Commission

3. NORKLIMA – The National Research Programme

4. NorACIA report – Assessment programme (ACIA follow up)

5. FRAM – High Nordic Research Centre on Climate and the Environment

The Norwegian Climate Adaptation Programme

• A national coordination initiative which links 13 ministries in order to provide cross-sectorial perspectives and policies

• Coordination group is led by the Ministry of Environment

• An executive secretariat for the national coordination effort is placed within the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning

• Cities of the Future

• Courses in climate adaptation

• Norwegian clearinghouse on adaptation - News since last EIONET- workshop:

– User survey just finished – is the clearinghouse useful?– Guidelines on adaptation– Climate maps (temperature, precipitation, season, 2050,2100)– http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/kampanjer/klimatilpasning-norge/Temperatur--og

-nedborendringer-2050-og-2100-.html?id=609105

Norwegian Climate Adaptation Programme

The Norwegian Clearinghouse:

www.klimatilpasning.no

www.dirnat.no

The Norwegian Climate Change Adaptation Commission

• Appointed by the Norwegian government (des. 08)• Expert group of 17 persons, many different sectors• Mandate:

– Give an overview of risks of climate change on different parts of the society: health and safety, physical infrastructure, trade, natural environment

– Identify and prioritize tools and means for reducing vulnerability and increase adaptation ability

– Include close involvement and dialog with relevant parties

• A Norwegian Official Report to be delivered by 1.nov 2010

www.dirnat.no

The Norwegian Climate Change Adaptation Commission

• Activities– A number of ordered background reports – Subject-specific meetings including stake-holders:

water and wastewater, energy, nature management, transport, buildings, land based and marine trade, health, insurance, sport and recreation

– Regional meetings (open to the public) in six different counties– Meeting with cross-department group on climate adaptation– Internal meetings in the Commission appr. once a month

– The writing process: secretariat of 4 persons

www.forskningsradet.no/NORKLIMA

NORKLIMA

Programme period: 2004–2013 Annual budget: NOK 70–110 million (Euros 9-14 million) Target groups: Politicians, the public administration, the

business sector, the research community and the public at large

www.forskningsradet.no/NORKLIMA

Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs 10 MNOKMinistry of Agriculture and Food 26,5 MNOKMinistry of the Environment 303,3 MNOKMinistry of Education and Research 52,8 MNOKMinistry of Transport and Communications 7,2 MNOKMinistry of Foreign Affairs 27 MNOKFund for Research and Innovation 205,3 MNOK

1) To improve understanding of the climate system and its variability, and quantification of uncertainty.

2) To improve knowledge of climate change and its impacts on buildings, infrastructure and other installations, both on land and offshore.

3) To improve knowledge of climate change and its impacts on natural and cultivated ecosystems and natural resource-based industries.

4) To improve knowledge of the impacts of climate change on society and how adaptive capacity can be strengthened. 5) To improve knowledge of the links between emission trends and the development of society, and of international cooperation to mitigate climate change. .

NORKLIMA objectives

Nor ACIA (2006-2010)- a national follow up of ACIA

Norwegian Arctic will be warmer and wetter -

with great local variability

•Climate change makes Arctic more vulnerable to pollutants and UV radiation•The ocean will be warmer and the ecosystem will change•Sea ice will decrease and threaten ice dependent species•Ocean acidification•The forests move north and upwards•Freshwater ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change•New parasites•Infrastructure in north is vulneravbe•Nature resources based industries - new opportunities and challenges •Society can and must adaptwww.noracia.npolar.no

NorACIA: Climate change effects on ecosystems and society

FRAM – High North Research Centre on Climate and the Environment

• Multidisiplinary research at the new centre will address the major challenges which arise from climate change in the north and will answer important questions about climate and the environment

• The exisisting Polar Environmental Centre +++• Opens in Tromsø September 2010• Flagship research programmes:

– Climate effects on fjord and coast ecology– Sea ice in the arctic oceans and adjacent areas– Ocean acidification and ecosystems effects in northern waters– Effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems and landscapes– Hazardous substances

www.polarenvironment.no