Minister Emphasizes Climate Adaptation as Key Responsibility for County Administrative Boards
Recent developments have brought attention to a significant slowdown in Sweden's efforts to address the impacts of climate change, particularly regarding flood protection and the prevention of landslides and erosion. Investigations have revealed that several critical projects intended to safeguard residential areas and infrastructure from flooding have been paused or discontinued by county administrative boards. In tandem, a substantial proportion of personnel dedicated to these projects have been laid off.
The primary reason cited for this abrupt halt is a reduction in government funding allocated to climate adaptation initiatives. Despite these budget cuts, the Minister for Climate and the Environment has asserted that the responsibility for continuing climate adaptation work remains with the county administrative boards. According to the minister, these regional authorities are uniquely positioned to manage climate-related risks because of their close collaboration with municipalities and their deep understanding of local conditions. The minister has underscored that implementing measures for climate adaptation is an integral part of the boards' mandated tasks as established by the state.
Concerns have been raised that the ongoing reduction in climate adaptation activities comes at a time when the demand for such efforts is increasing due to the escalating risks posed by climate change. The minister has stated that county administrative boards should prioritize their resources effectively within the existing budget framework to fulfill their responsibility to protect communities and infrastructure. There is an expectation that these organizations make strategic decisions to ensure that essential climate adaptation projects are not neglected, even in the face of financial constraints.
When questioned about the allocation of resources, the minister indicated that county administrative boards receive substantial funding from the state, much of which is not earmarked for specific purposes. As such, it is within the boards' discretion to direct appropriate levels of funding toward climate adaptation measures as part of their broader mandate. The minister expressed concern over recent decisions by many boards to scale back or suspend projects, emphasizing that such actions are particularly regrettable given the increasing threat posed by extreme weather events and other climate-related hazards.
The withdrawal of targeted government grants in 2023 came as an unexpected development for the county administrative boards. Only a small minority of these boards have chosen to continue climate adaptation projects at full capacity by reallocating their own budgets. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), which coordinates climate adaptation activities across the counties, has previously reported to the government about the adverse consequences of these funding cuts and has recommended a review of the financing model for such work.
In response to questions about why the government has not acted on these recommendations, the minister indicated that discussions within the government are ongoing regarding the future financing of climate protection measures. A government-commissioned inquiry, aimed at improving the conditions for effective climate adaptation, is under way. However, this investigation has not been authorized to propose measures that would place additional demands on the national budget. Several county administrative boards have submitted responses urging the government to reinstate dedicated funding for climate adaptation efforts.
The minister has also highlighted that society as a whole has not fully accounted for the risks associated with climate change, particularly in planning and development decisions. For example, the authorization of residential construction on previously flooded agricultural land has been cited as a practice that carries significant risks, which have not always been adequately considered in planning processes.
While acknowledging that decisions related to budget allocations will always be subject to debate, the minister maintains that the issue of climate adaptation remains urgent and complex, with potentially severe consequences if not addressed. The government expects county administrative boards to make prudent use of their funding to fulfill their climate adaptation obligations and protect communities from the growing risks of climate change.