Government and Parliament
At the national level, the Government, the Parliament, and many government agencies are responsible for climate change adaptation efforts in various ways.
The Government and the Parliament (Riksdag) are the highest national decision-making bodies, dealing with the following key aspects:
- The Government is responsible for issuing ordinances, while the Riksdag is tasked with enacting laws. There are a large number of laws, both direct and indirect, govern climate change adaptation work in Sweden.
- The Government has adopted the Ordinance (2018:1428) governing climate adaptation work by government agencies. This ordinance regulates the responsibilities of 32 government agencies and all 21 county administrative boards in climate change adaptation. It also states that all actors must submit an annual report to SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute), with the task to analyze these reports and compile a report for the Government.
- The Government has assigned the National Board of Housing, Building, and Planning (Boverket) a special role in coordinating national climate adaptation work for the built environment.
National Expert Council for Climate Change Adaptation
The National Expert Council for Climate Change Adaptation, attached to SMHI, is tasked with producing a report to the Government every five years.
This report is expected to include recommendations for the focal points of national climate change adaptation efforts, prioritization of adaptation measures based on risk, cost, and benefit, a concise analysis of climate change's societal impact, and a follow-up and evaluation of the national work on climate change adaptation.
SMHI has a secretariat that helps the expert council. In February 2022, the Expert Council submitted its first report to the Government.
National Expert Council for Climate Change Adaptation
External link.
Government agencies
Different government authorities are responsible for providing support and assistance in different sectors. For instance, in the agriculture and forestry sector, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Forest Agency handle climate change adaptation support. In the preparedness sector, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is responsible, while the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management is responsible for the water environment sector. The Public Health Agency of Sweden handles human health.
These authorities have a wide range of powers, from giving support to issuing guidance.
Climate Change Adaptation Agency Network
Several government agencies collaborate within the Climate Change Adaptation Agency Network to collectively strengthen society's capacity to handle both the positive and negative effects of climate change.
Network of Authorities for Climate Change Adaptation External link.
Knowledge Centre for Climate Change Adaptation
The National Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Center is a hub for collective knowledge about climate change adaptation. SMHI operates this center on behalf of the government. Its purpose is to facilitate the understanding of climate adaptation among various societal actors and emphasize its significance, Gather and share relevant information from government agencies and research sources; and increased knowledge about how to work with climate adaptation.
About the Swedish National Knowledge Centre for Climate Change Adaptation (SMHI) External link.