Climate adaptation

From climate risk to action: proposals for Nordic cooperation

Publiceret 12-11-2026
News

Participants from across the Nordics and Estonia came together at the Nordic Climate Forum for Construction 2026 to explore how stronger Nordic cooperation could help address current and emerging challenges in climate adaptation of the built environment. Workshop participants developed proposals for Nordic cooperation on climate-risk assessment, climate-informed planning, adaptation of existing buildings and practical implementation.

From survey findings to practical Nordic cooperation on climate adaptation

The workshop built on a survey conducted in advance of the forum, which explored current challenges and future needs related to climate adaptation. The survey highlighted low levels of preparedness, the need to better incorporate future climate risks into decision-making, and strong interest in practical methods for translating climate scenarios into planning, design and investment decisions. It also identified adaptation of existing buildings, clearer responsibilities and better implementation support as key priorities.

Working in groups, participants developed responses to challenges identified through the survey. They considered what successful Nordic cooperation could look like in the near future and where Nordic experience could contribute to wider developments. The outputs are now being analysed within the Climate Work Package of Nordic Sustainable Construction. The preliminary findings outlined an early overview of the workshop proposals and the areas participants considered most relevant for continued Nordic cooperation.

Preliminary findings point to practical areas for Nordic cooperation

Developing a more consistent Nordic approach to future climate risk

Several groups proposed greater Nordic cooperation to interpret future climate information, translate it into practical tools and incorporate it into risk assessment and decision-making. Proposals included a Nordic framework for climate-risk assessment, common guidelines, adaptation platforms and knowledge hubs. Groups also proposed shared scenario definitions and aligned approaches for translating climate data into weather data. Participants called for more regular Nordic cooperation to make climate information easier to use in practice. They also recognised uncertainty in future climate projections, including the future development of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

Turning climate information into planning and investment decisions

Participants explored how climate-risk information could guide decisions on where and how to build, which risks to avoid, adapt to or accept, and where adaptation investment is needed. Planning proposals included defined risk-tolerance levels and support for municipalities in site and spatial planning. For investment decisions, participants proposed clearer comparisons between preparedness costs and future damages, alongside greater consideration of climate risk in investment and insurance decisions. They also proposed integrating climate adaptation into certification systems.

Supporting adaptation of existing buildings

Adaptation of existing buildings was a major priority in the survey, and the workshop generated a range of practical proposals. Participants discussed approaches for assessing climate risks across the existing building stock, including the use of digital tools and AI to combine information on building condition with climate risks. Other proposals included example banks for climate-adapted renovation projects, adding climate-risk and adaptation information to building logbooks, risk assessment methods for different categories of buildings and the development of prefabricated renovation solutions. The discussions also highlighted the value of sharing both successful and unsuccessful implementation experiences across countries.

Clarifying responsibilities and enabling implementation

The workshop also explored how climate adaptation can be embedded more effectively into planning, construction, and renovation practices. Participants discussed clearer responsibilities across the construction value chain, stronger planning criteria from the early stages of development, and positive incentives for adaptation measures. Proposals also included sharing good practices across the Nordic countries and strengthening communication around climate adaptation. The discussions highlighted a broader ambition to make climate adaptation a normal part of practice across the built environment, rather than something addressed separately or at a later stage.

Conditions for Nordic cooperation

Participants generally rated the proposals highly for Nordic added value and potential impact, but their qualitative assessment also highlighted a distinction between potential value and practical feasibility. Conditions for success included political commitment, funding, cross-sector cooperation and implementation capacity. Local differences and uncertainty in future climate scenarios were recurring considerations that would also need to be addressed.

From preliminary findings to further work

Taken together, the workshop suggested that climate adaptation requires more than improved data or better projections. Participants emphasised working together across the Nordic countries to translate climate information into practical tools and common guidance, with stronger coordination among authorities, researchers and practitioners. Sharing experience and lessons learned across countries could help successful approaches be adapted and scaled more effectively.

The survey and workshop material will now be analysed further within the Climate Work Package of Nordic Sustainable Construction. This work will help identify where Nordic cooperation can best support climate adaptation in practice.