The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

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

  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)
  • LU Profile Area: Human rights
  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety

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