Abstract
The Swedish Government’s Commission on Climate and Vulnerability (2005–2007) assessed local vulnerability to climate change and adaptation needs within the main sectors of society for the periods 2011–2040, 2041–2070, and 2071–2100. The workgroup on Health (human and animal) worked closely with that on water. This chapter presents the main findings of the section on water-related health consequences from climate change. Heavy rain, floods, landslides, and increases in water flows may directly or indirectly impact infrastructure, buildings, public services, water sources, etc., which could cause health consequences ranging from deaths, injuries, and outbreaks of infectious diseases, to exposure to toxic compounds, and allergic reactions.
The Commission’s recommendations to different governmental authorities on issues connected to water-related health consequences are presented, together with additional adaptive measures that were suggested by the Health and Water workgroups. The value of incorporating the added risks of climate change into existing programs and planning was emphasized. In response to the recommendations, the government has now created new funding opportunities for climate change-related scientific research, and for knowledge building within its agencies. At the local level, some county and municipality boards have themselves initiated vulnerability and adaptation assessments focusing on local conditions, as bases for further planning and responses.
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Acknowledgments
This chapter is based on the work done by the Swedish Government’s Commission on Climate and Vulnerability. We would like to thank in particular Mats Bergmark at MittSverige Vatten, and Per Ericsson at the Northern Water Board.
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Lindgren, E., Albihn, A., Andersson, Y. (2011). Climate Change, Water-Related Health Impacts, and Adaptation: Highlights from the Swedish Government’s Commission on Climate and Vulnerability. In: Ford, J., Berrang-Ford, L. (eds) Climate Change Adaptation in Developed Nations. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 42. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0567-8_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0567-8_12
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