Case studies

The examples below aim to provide inspiration and to share experiences of different types of climate change adaptation work in Sweden.

Broad initiative for smarter management of rainwater in Malmö and Lund

Regntunna

As a result of climate change, sudden cloudbursts of heavy rain in Sweden are expected to become more common and more intensive. Good practice in the management of water increases towns’ ability to cope with cloudbursts, thereby reducing the risk of major damage.

Wetlands, flood protection and recreation are combined in Getinge

AgricultureHealthHeat waves
Bakgrunden visar stackmoln på en blå himmel. Förgrunden visar grönt våtmarksområde med lugnt vatten.

Getinge in Halmstad Municipality has repeatedly been struck by flooding of the Suseån River. To protect the community, preserve natural assets and improve the quality of life of the residents, the municipality built flood banks and a combined wetland and recreation area.

Initiative with quinoa cultivation in Östergötland

AgricultureErosionFloodingHealthHeat waves
Bilden visar en grön quinoaväxt mot en blå himmel

Longer periods of drought and higher temperatures await Sweden in a changed climate. The South American crop quinoa is suited to dry conditions and with a new cultivated variety, it can also be grown in Sweden. It is being tested by farmers in Östergötland.

Alley cropping adapts farming to changed climate

AgricultureBiodiversityEcosystem servicesErosionFlooding
Rullning av hösilage på åkern

Alley cropping means that fruit and nut trees and berry bushes are planted in rows on the field. This is being tried at the farm Hånsta Östgärde in Uppland. The method is considered to be more resilient at the same time that the risks are spread over more crops.

No-till farming as a method in a future climate

AgricultureEcosystem servicesErosionFloodingMouldNatural environment
Mask på jordhög

No-till farming is being tested on farms throughout Sweden, including two farms in Skåne. The method benefits microorganisms that work the soil at the same time that it counters erosion and other consequences of a changed climate.

Restoration of rivers in Norrland increases resilience

BiodiversityEcosystem servicesErosionFloodingForestryMouldNatural environment
Bro i vattendrag

The natural habitats in many rivers have disappeared as a result of them being cleared and dams being built. Restoration of rivers to their natural brook environment among other things reduces the risk of flooding and benefits biodiversity.

Varied forest adapts forestry to climate change

BiodiversityEcosystem servicesFloodingForestry
Skog

Local natural forests are the role model in the forestry method the Lübeck model. This forestry method is one example of a method that provides conditions to face the changes that a warmer climate entails.

Reduced flood risk for road and railway

ErosionFloodingTourismUrban planning
Bro över Göta älv

When a new road and railway were being planned in the Göta River valley, the infrastructure was raised to reduce the flooding risk. In raising the infrastructure, future sea levels, future subsidence of the ground and land uplift were taken into account. The project was the first large …

Retention reservoirs for storm water run-off in Norrköping

ErosionFloodingSnowStorm waterTourismUrban planning
Plankarta över kvartersmark Idrottsparken Norrköping

Climate change means that urban environment need to handle larger amounts of storm water run-off. At the same time, urbanisation decreases the share of green spaces which has good infiltration possibilities. Norrköping has therefore Interest built retention solutions to back up …

Protection and care of nature in a changed climate

BiodiversityEcosystem servicesMouldNatural environment
Havsstrandäng

The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland is working to climate adapt protection and care of natural areas. A template with proposals on climate-adapted measures in the care of nature reserves was developed. 

Adaptation areas