Adapting to climate change in Finland: Research priorities. Proceedings of the FINDAPT seminar, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Helsinki, 14 November 2003. FINADAPT Working Paper 1

This report is an account of a one-day seminar organised at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) as part of the preparatory phase of the FINADAPT consortium. It was attended by 80 participants from government, research institutions, business and the private sector. The seminar had four main goals: 1) to draw attention to the role of climate change adaptation in complementing emissions reduction (mitigation) as a response to changing climate in Finland, 2) to invite participants representing different sectors and constituencies to present their opinions on the key research challenges posed in adapting to future climate change in Finland, 3) to provide input for the final planning of research projects proposed in the FINADAPT consortium, and 4) to discuss the possible establishment of a national research programme on climate change adaptation. The report summarises the information presented at the seminar and also records some of the discussion. Section 2 covers the three short introductory presentations, and sections 3 and 4 then describe two moderated panel sessions that had a sectoral focus - four panelists speaking on aspects of the natural environment and four on themes related to infrastructure and human wellbeing. The experiences of three guest speakers of national climate change research programmes in Norway and the United Kingdom are related in section 5 and section 6 reports the final panel session on themes that cut across the field of climate change adaptation. The concluding session is a summary of some of the main issues and recommendations raised in discussion. The seminar programme and list of participants can be found in the appendices