Skåne
Sweden
 "Skåne Coastline")
© Skåne
About the region
Skåne, located in southern Sweden, has a population of around 1.42 million people.
Main climate risks
Coastal floods
The main climate change induced risks for the region of Skåne is associated with coastal floods which pose a significant threat to its infrastructure. In Sweden the largest increases in the sea level are expected to be in the southern part of the country where Skåne is, which means that it is more exposed to the climate change than other areas nationally [1].
Heatwaves
One of the secondary risks which the region will have to address is higher temperatures, heat waves, and the resulting heat stress on the population. This poses significant long-term challenges. Heat stress is locally defined as temperatures over 30 degrees and will become much more common in Skåne because of increasing global temperatures. Vulnerable groups, particularly older people, are facing health risks associated with high temperatures [2].
Droughts
A third concern for the region is the impact of droughts in general and on the large agricultural sector in the area. During the summers of 2018-2021 there was droughts each year in Sweden which impacted Skåne significantly several of the years. As the effect of climate change increases this is expected to impact both water availability for the population and agriculture [3].
Focus during Pathways2Resilience
Skåne seeks to use the P2R to build on existing experiences with nature-based solutions and water management in the region. They similarly want to improve the KCSs where they currently consider themselves to have low capacities through their work in P2R. A particular focus is on how to build synergies between different organisational areas handled by the County. The county has responsibilities in crisis management in the region and therefore it will have priority to better understand how critical infrastructure can be better protected as part of this work with P2R.
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“Nature-based solutions are often both economically and ecologically more sustainable.”From our participation in the LIFE project LIFE Coast Adapt that we also included in our policy in regard to climate adaptation in the coastal zone.
Interesting highlights
We have introduced a stakeholder “drop-in” where we meet up digitally every two months to exchange knowledge, facilitate collaborative spaces, as well as an opportunity for municipalities to ask climate adaptation relevant questions to the County Administrative Board. The first meeting was on March 27.
Starting last autumn, we have conducted an external analysis, both regionally and nationally, in the area of heat (more hot days and heat waves, drought) linked to a changing climate and community planning. This has previously been a marginalized issue but has become more and more important in recent years. Especially how it should be handled within the Swedish planning process. We have had meetings with municipalities and had internal workshops to begin working on a regional policy on this issue.
Regional Resilience Journey
Skåne has medium readiness for all three RRJ steps.
Skåne region has the highest capacities in Capabilities and skills, followed by Governance, Engagement and Collaboration and Behavioural Change.
Key community systems priority areas
Water management
Ecosystems and nature-based solutions
Key enabling conditions priority areas
Governance, engagement and collaboration
Knowledge and data
Experimentation, strategic learning and reflective adjustment