Networks in Sweden

There are a number of networks in Sweden that work with various issues involving climate change adaptation. Drinking water, dam safety, landslides and coastal erosion are just a few examples of operational areas.

The Delegation for the Göta River

The delegation is headed up by the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), and is a platform for collaboration between the parties responsible for climate change adaptation work in the Göta River valley. Its task is to contribute knowledge about the area alongside the river, to contribute towards planning for the work involved, and to help assess which landslide stabilising measures should be prioritised for receive government funding. The delegation advises SGI, and is involved in issuing statements in advance of funding decisions. The delegation consists of representatives from Vänersborg, Trollhättan, Lilla Edet, Ale and Kungälv municipalities, the City of Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County Administrative Board, Värmland County Administrative Board, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Transport Administration, Vattenfall Vattenkraft AB and the Swedish Geotechnical Institute.

The Delegation for Landslide Issues

The Delegation for Landslide Issues is a contact and collaboration body for agencies working with these issues. It is linked to the Swedish Geotechnical Institute, and its members are appointed by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the Swedish Transport Administration and the National Network for Drinking Water.

The National Network for Adaptation

The National Network for Adaptation consists of a number of agencies with sectoral responsibility for the adaptation of society to  the current and future climate, together with 21 county administrative boards with responsibility for coordinating climate change adaptation work at regional level. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) is also a member of the network. The agencies of the network work together to strengthen society’s ability to deal with the positive and negative effects of climate change.

The National Network for Coastal Erosion

The network is a contact and collaboration body for issues relating to coastal erosion. One of its main tasks is to support the Swedish Geotechnical Institute with its national coordination responsibility for coastal erosion. The work of the network includes identifying common issues and evaluating the need for coordination.

The Swedish National Expert Council for Climate Adaptation

The Swedish National Expert Council for Climate Adaptation has been tasked with evaluating climate change adaptation work in Sweden and submitting proposals for ongoing work. The Expert Council provides data for the national climate change adaptation strategy every five years. The council was appointed by the Government, and is linked to SMHI.

The National Network for Drinking Water

The network aims to secure Sweden’s future drinking water supply through strategic coordination of the shared agency responsibility and dealing with prioritised issues. The Swedish Food Agency is responsible for leading and coordinating the network, and supports its operations.

The Committee for Dimensioned Dam Flows in a Changed Climate

The committee has been tasked with analysing and evaluating the significance of climate change for dam safety with regard to flow dimensioning, and with taking the initiative for prioritised studies. It was appointed in 2008 through an agreement between Svenska Kraftnät, Swedenergy, the Swedish Association of Mines, Mineral and Metal Producers and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. The committee deals with those issues that the Government assigned to Svenska Kraftnät to analyse in partnership with the energy industry, the mining industry and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, in accordance with the final report of the Swedish Commission on Climate and Vulnerability.

The Platform for Sustainable Cities

The Platform for Sustainable Cities consists of the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the Swedish Energy Agency.

Regional Coastal Cooperation in Skåne/Halland

The county administrative boards in Skåne and Halland, the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) and the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) have formed Regional Coastal Cooperation in Skåne/Halland to work together with coastal municipalities in Skåne and Halland, other agencies and regional players to counter the problems of coastal erosion and rising sea levels.