The Climatools research programme now presents eight tools designed to assist local authorities and county councils in adapting society to climate change.
Climate change is a fact. Even if we reduce our emissions we will in future be experiencing a warmer and more unpredictable climate, and this future is not all that far away. We must prepare ourselves, says Annika Carlsson-Kanyama, Project Manager and Programme Director for Climatools.
At the Climatools seminar in Stockholm on 26 January the press were able to meet and book interviews with the project managers for the various tools as well as representatives of municipalities that have tested the tools. Climatools is being run by FOI on assignment from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Many local authorities have already put the adaptation tools to the test. Here are some examples:
Staffantorps and Landskrona Municipalities have tested several of the Climatools tools in preparing to meet the challenges of the change in climate. In Malmö a major climate change adaptation seminar has been held at which municipalities in the Skåne region were given a presentation of the range of Climatools tools available.
Botkyrka, Danderyd and Salems Municipalities have tested a number of Climatools tools. Botkyrka has been involved in the development of the tool relating to preparedness for heat waves. Botkyrka is the only municipality in the country to have charted the number of inhabitants who are especially vulnerable to heat, i.e. whose health could be at risk in the event of a heat wave. Together with Danderyd, Climatools have produced a range of future scenarios based on a changed climate.
At a themed day event for local authorities, arranged by Umeå University and Climatools in collaboration with the Västerbotten county administrative board, the focus was on how drinking water supplies could be affected by a warmer and wetter climate. At this themed event in Skellefteå, the Climatools guide and the associated checklist were the subject of a presentation. Those attending were able to respond with their own views.