If we cannot stop it - we must adapt

Even if we got the causes of climate change under control, the change will still continue for a long time due to emissions that have already been released. This is why we must also be able to adapt to the change.

The objective of adaptation is to reduce the various negative effects of climate change and to strengthen the positive effects. Adaptation is difficult as many of the problems that climate change may bring about are unknown. We can adapt to those changes that we can detect signs of.

FINADAPT

The Finnish environment's and society's ability to adapt to climate change has been researched (FINADAPT). The program has evaluated what kind of new investments may be needed to minimize the risks of the anticipated climate change and on what time scale these investments will be necessary.

Research has shown that even though the effects of climate change have been well researched at different sectors in Finland, there are only few adaptation programs. In addition to the national climate strategy, which will be completed in November 2005, there will also be a national adaptation strategy.

The strategy especially focuses on the critical aspects/areas of adaptation, like agriculture and forestry, tourism and nature protection. The adaptation strategy states that climate change is not only a matter of environmental protection but it has also economic and social effects.

Adaptation in practice

As adaptation programs are only just being developed, concrete examples of adaptation are few.

In agriculture, the objective is to introduce different support programs, for instance to support the adoption of new technologies and to diversify the selection of cultivated plants. There is also an objective to develop different compensation systems in case of harvest losses and storm damages. There is also an objective to support the improvement of plants by breeding, because old plant species may not be able to survive the changing climate.

In water management, it is necessary to prepare to both, reoccurring floods, and droughts. There has been developed a 12 step action program for flood control, and it has been estimated that its implementation will require approximately 6 million euros in the next 12 years.

When it comes to biodiversity, the means of adaptation are limited. If the change turns out to advance fast also in Finland, international cooperation will be necessary to safeguard biodiversity. The primary means will be reducing other stress factors (pollution, overuse etc.) to the minimum, so that climate change will remain the only major threat.

12.9.2005 Anna Koivisto