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Photo of Mo Hamza

Mo Hamza

Researcher

Photo of Mo Hamza

The fragmentation of climate change adaptation – the Sweden case

Author

  • Tomas Wörlund Rylenius
  • Mo Hamza

Summary, in English

Purpose: This paper aims to challenge the view of Sweden’s climate leadership by problematizing its domestic climate adaptation governance and highlighting the need for a more holistic view of adaptation. The paper highlights aspects that are troublesome for not only the built environment along coastlines but also the future of Sweden’s standing as a climate leader. The paper concludes with recommendations addressing the key areas of climate adaptation fragmentation in Sweden and calls for a more holistic view of adaptation, and one that takes into account resources, collaboration and coherence of governance vision. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is a comprehensive analysis of internal governance processes in climate change adaptation. It is based on an extensive literature review and semi-structured interviews at the local level – i.e. municipalities – who have the primary responsibility for adaptation to climate change in Sweden. Findings: Findings point to three-fold concerns. First, there is a lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities in adaptation among municipalities, regions and governmental agencies. Second, the gap between available finance and actual needs for climate change adaptation presents a major challenge when channels and pathways are not clear either. Finally, some adaptation strategies on both the local and national scales may be maladaptive in the long term. Originality/value: Sweden consistently ranks highly in different climate performance indices and has acquired an international reputation as a climate leader. The paper challenges this narrative. Through a closer look the paper’s findings reveal a more fragmented picture of climate adaptation governance in the country with a myriad of unresolved questions and ad hoc solutions, where adaptation challenges are more pronounced and manifest in the built environment along the coastlines.

Department/s

  • Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • LU Profile Area: Human rights

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Publication/Series

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Topic

  • Climate Research

Keywords

  • Adaptation
  • Climate change
  • Governance
  • Sweden

Status

Epub

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1759-5908