Adapting to climate change?

Even if the emission of greenhouse gases were to cease today we would still need to adapt to climate change as a result of existing emission levels. Adaptation to climate change, including effects on level rise and increased risk for flooding, is thereby extremely important for societies. In Sweden is among other areas Gothenburg situated at such a low elevation and large risk for flooding from the Göta River and Lake Vänern that adaptation is necessary, which is highlighted among other things in the Commission on Climate and Vulnerability (2007) and the climate bill (2009). Water related industry – such as Vattenfall, which among other things owns the water court judgement för Göta River – and insurance industry – which for instance may reject insuring low-lying properties – are major stakeholders and actors in adaptation to climate change, but have so far been little involved given that the state’s work with adaptation has started only in the last few years.