Adaptation to climate change

The cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan area and Helsinki Region Environmental Authority HSY are together preparing an adaptation to climate change strategy for the Metropolitan area. The strategy will concentrate on the build and urban environment. In the work, impacts of climate change in the region have been identified and policies and measures to adapt to these impacts have been defined defined.

The draft strategy was finalised in December 2010. In spring 2011, the draft strategy was sent for comments to the four cities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and to other stakeholders. Comments were received from the Metropolitan Area cities and 28 other stakeholders including ministries, regional government organisations, research institutions and non-governmental organisations.

The draft strategy is being revised during autumn 2011 and will be finalised by the end of year 2011. 

By adapting to climate change, the Helsinki Metropolitan area prepares for the consequences of climate change, such as increased risks of floods, heavy rainfalls, mild and wet winters and drought periods. By adaptation, it is possible to minimise negative impacts of climate change and to benefit from positive consequences. This, however, requires early and planned action.

The cities prepare for the changes in weather conditions and extreme weather events in many ways. They also have organisations and means to repair the damages caused by weather events. Adaptation to climate change is therefore not novel. However, the changing climate can be different from the one we are used to: it can be rainier, windier, drier, hotter or more unpredictable and therefore we also need new kinds of measures to respond to the changes and their impacts.