Clim ate Change – A dapting to T he I mpacts, by C ommunities in Northern Peripheral Regions A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund Martin Price Centre for Mountain Studies Perth College UHI Millennium Institute, Scotland Kirsi Latola Coordinator UArctic Thematic Networks Office Sustainable tourism, Greenland

Project overview Clim-ATIC: a € 2.35 Million transnational project 60% funded by the European Regional Development Fund’s Northern Periphery Programme 2007 – % funded by institutions in each country aims to result in the best possible understanding of all issues associated with climate change adaptation at a community level for northern regions A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund Risk response management, Norway

Overall objective To establish a sustainable, self-financing delivery mechanism to: provide information, training & advice on climate change adaptation to: communities small businesses local administrations across the Northern Periphery Sustainable tourism, Greenland A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund

Why bottom-up adaptation? Communities are on the front line! The consequences of climate change are felt at the local level; adaptation predominantly takes place locally. However, current government processes for adaptation are predominantly linked to regional, national and international events and policies. Communities – and individuals, small groups and small businesses – can be more responsive if given sufficient knowledge and supported politically or financially. Cumulatively, many small adaptations are more resilient in the face of uncertainty than large-scale adaptations. Sustainable tourism, Finnish Lapland

5 participating regions with similar climate change impact issues Glen Urquhart and the Cairngorms National Park Flora, Sogn og Fjordane County of Vasterbotten, and Åre Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Kolari, Lapland Uummannaq Illulissat Sisimiut Iceland Faroe Islands A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund

Five interlinked transnational workpackages Establishment of a community climate change adaptation information, training & advice service Project management, coordination & communication Regional climate change knowledge a and scenarios Identify community climate adaptation o opportunities Adaptation demonstration projects March 2008 February A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund

Community Adaptation Demonstration Projects (WP4) Planning, managing, evaluating and comparing lessons from 12 adaptation projects Sustainable transport Tourism opportunities Sustainable energy management Risk management and response 2 New tourism opportunities in Kittilä and Kolari GIS flood mapping for development planning in Rovaniemi 4 Dog sledging on thin ice in Sisimiut Illulissat Climate change tourism education in Illulissat & sustainable huts in Kangerlussuaq Fish waste to Uummannaq bio-gas in Uummannaq 1 Landslides and public warning system, Flora 4 Trial of eletric vehicle for community use in Strathspey Bluetooth ‘stay and play’ project at Cairngorm Mountain Wood fuel training for local businesses in Cairngorms National Park River restoration project (sustainable flood management) Glen Urquhart 2 Winter tourism and sustainable transport project in Åre Adapting woodland owners’ management plans in Lycksele A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund

Establish a Northern Periphery Community Climate Change Adaptation Information, Training, and Advice Service (WP5) The UHI Millennium Institute together with the University of the Arctic (Thematic Network on Global Change) are leading this workpackage

A Project part-financed by the European Union and the European Regional Development Fund Activities to date Brainstorming at kick-off meeting (May 2008) Deeper analysis of existing resources in each country (late 2008) Initial market survey to identify target customers, content and methods of delivery (May to August 2009)  available on SurveyMonkey in seven languages  the start of a process  not a ‘representative sample’

Country of Respondents (total = 272)

Types of Respondents

Knowledge about climate change

Someone in the organisation working on climate change adaptation

Very/interested in knowing about adaptation

Preferred Sources of Information (all respondents)

Most beneficial information theme

Most helpful type of information

Services to help with adaptation

Results of breakout session Clim-ATIC project requirement – To deliver one short course within a year There is no lack of information – Key issue is how to package for different audiences Service delivery – What audience(s)? – Aims of course? – Aims of eventual service: balance of training, information, advice…. – Geographic / thematic scope? – Information portal?

Initial short course Audience: local government employees – Planners – Environmental officers Content – Knowledge of climate change and impacts – Exchange of case studies / good practice for adaptation – How to include adaptation in long-term planning – Focus on processes, rather than prescriptions – Focus on where to find information (including about funding) If possible, link to already planned meeting, with on-line follow-up

Additional survey before short course Focus on respondents from local authorities – What topics – Format (on-line / face-to-face) – Length of course – Time availability (work time / own time) – Language(s) – Costs – Certificate?

Synergies with UArctic Global Change Thematic Network / Graduate Studies – Climate change adaptation course Undergraduate Studies – Advanced Emphasis on climate change adaptation – Open learning Rectors’ Forum 2010 – Focus on climate change adaptation Mimir?