Survey amongst political decision makers on the perception of climate change and adaptation to climate change in the Baltic Sea Region Circum Mare Balticum
Regional Adaptation Strategies for the German Baltic Sea Coast (RADOST) www.klimzug-radost.de The Baltic coastline of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein is one of seven model regions in Germany that are supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the funding activity KLIMZUG ("Managing climate change in the regions for the future"). Duration July 2009 to June 2014; Funding 9 Million Euro; Core consortium of 17 partners and about 150 network partners (regional and local authorities and municipalities, enterprises , research and non-governmental organisations). Circum Mare Balticum
RADOST objectives To establish regional and supra-regional networks for coastal adaptation along the German side of the Baltic Sea; Influence administrative actions and strategies of economic stakeholders regarding their adaptation to climate change Involve those stakeholders which are mostly affected by climate change and which are planning adaptation strategies; In-depth survey of stakeholder support networking! Circum Mare Balticum
Project Region – German Baltic Sea Coastline Denmark Schlei Trave Warnow Poland Peene Oder Circum Mare Balticum
Decision makers: users of the scientific information Sample = Local decision makers on the German Baltic coast 104 responses (appx 10% response rate) Circum Mare Balticum
Rating the regional political importance of environmental issues by decision makers 26.21% 56.31% 17.48% economic conditions social conditions environmental conditions Most concern is directed towards economic conditions Circum Mare Balticum
Communication and usability of climate knowledge for practical use in community politics Circum Mare Balticum
How do they see the utility of direct contact with science? The results of science that you refer to in order to make decisions are often Not understandable Very understandable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q6 Of little use Of great use 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q7 Scientists know what information you need to design effective policy and take appropriate action Always Never 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q9 Circum Mare Balticum
What are the information sources? Circum Mare Balticum
How much do you use the following sources of information Very much Not at all Television 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19a Newspaper 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19b Radio 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19c Books 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19d Public scientific talks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19e Museums & exhibitions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19f Contact with scientists 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19g Scientific journals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19h Meetings & conferences 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19i Internal working groups 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q19j Circum Mare Balticum
The grounds for communication on adaptation Circum Mare Balticum
Worry about climate change BALTEX scientists How convinced are you that climate change poses a very serious threat to the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Q12 Baltic Sea region in which you live? Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Very much German sub-set scientists 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Q12 In your opinion and for the area in which you live, climate change is something a Decision makers person should be not be worried about at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 be very worried about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q4 1 7 Decision makers are slightly more concerned about the threat of climate change than German scientists working in the Baltic region Circum Mare Balticum
Worry about sea level BALTEX scientists How convinced are you that sea level rise poses a very serious threat to the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Q14 Baltic Sea region in which you live? Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Very much German sub-set scientists 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Q14 In your opinion and for the area in which you live, sea level rise is something a Decision makers person should be not worried about at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 very worried about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q5 1 7 Decision makers are slightly more concerned about the threat of sea level rise than German scientists working in the Baltic region Circum Mare Balticum
What hinders the implementation of adaptation measures? Circum Mare Balticum
Hinderance to the Implentation of Regional Adaptation Strategies. In your opinion, if adaptation measures are necessary, how much do the following concerns prevent adequate adaptation measures from being put into place? Not at all Very much Costs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q 2 6 a Lack of Certainty 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q 2 6 b Lack of Knowledge of Impacts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q 2 6 c Lack of Inter- regional co-operation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q 2 6 d Priority of other issues 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q 2 6 e Lack of technology 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 q 2 6 f Circum Mare Balticum
Summary Climate change is problem and need for proactive and immediate action in adaptation confirmed; Which adaptation activities can be undertaken are unclear; Defficiency in financial resources are a constraint to motivation to adaptation; any alternatives? In order to have a clear understanding of climate change, stakeholders need have to understandable information tailored to their needs; Challenges: Scepticism (margin of climate parameters, uncertain knowledge); Lack of information; Science-Practice Dialogues (target group and regional oriented formats needed); Circum Mare Balticum
Next Steps The survey of German Baltic political decision makers is forthcoming as a BALTEX report (English) and a RADOST report (German). The report will be sent to 1.400 coastal decision makers in Germany in fall 2011. The survey will be extended to the entire BALTIC community (coastal political decision makers). We would appreciate your help in compiling a list of relevant Stakeholders (coastal authorities, mayors etc) If you have ideas who should be included please contact Grit Martinez Email: grit.martine@ecologic.eu Forthcoming events Fall 2011 (Stakeholder Consultations in): Poland (24 October Szczecin, 25 October Gdansk) Latvia (Klaipedia, 27 October) Lithuania (Riga 28 October) 17 Circum Mare Balticum
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