To adapt is to prepare

Climate change adaptation refers to the efforts by humans and the nature to adjust to and prepare for the climatic changes which have already taken place or which are to be expected, either by minimising the damages or by taking advantage of the benefits. Adaptation may be anticipatory, planned or reactive.

Climate change can no longer be prevented, because it will take until the latter part of this century before any significant impacts of international agreements concerning the restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions begin to show in the progress of climate change. This is why adaptation is now considered equally important to the mitigation efforts in climate policy.

Strategy outlines the actions

Finland has been a pioneer in the implementation of climate policy. The National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change was adopted in 2005 as an independent section of the National Energy and Climate Strategy.

The aim of the Adaptation Strategy is to reinforce and increase the capacity to adapt to climate change and to mitigate the costs to the society. The Strategy describes the impacts and potential adaptation measures by sectors up until 2080. Measures were outlined for altogether 15 different sectors.

The most important measures to be taken until 2015 are:

• climate change adaptation is incorporated in the sectors' regular planning, implementation and development processes,
• preparations are made for extreme events and the assessment of the impacts of climate change is incorporated in the planning of long-term investments,
• existing and new observation and warning systems are developed,
• Climate Change Adaptation Research Programme 2006-2010 (ISTO) is implemented, and
• preparations are made for changes in the international operating environment.

The report on the first Evaluation of the Implementation of the Adaptation Strategy was published in 2009. The revision of the Strategy should take place in 2011-2013.

Coordination Group steers the implementation

The Coordination Group for Adaptation to Climate Change, steered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, follows and promotes the implementation of the Strategy. The Group has representatives from various ministries, research institutes, research financers and regional actors.