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Presentation given at Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2023, in the session ID07 entitled Observing the Arctic

The new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change highlights the urgency of adaptation measures while bringing forth adaptation as vitally important as a response to climate change as mitigation. In order to provide information on how adaptation to climate change has been promoted in Finland and what calls for attention next, we have compiled a comprehensive information package focusing on the following themes: adaptation policy, impacts of climate change including economic impacts, regional adaptation strategies, climate and flood risks in regions and sea areas, and the availability of scientific data. This report consists of two parts. Part 1 of the report examines the work carried out on adaptation in Finland and internationally since 2005, emphasising the directions and priorities of recent research results. The possibilities of adaptation governance are examined through examples, such as how adaptations steering is organised in of the United Kingdom. We also examine other examples and describe the Canadian Climate Change Adaptation Platform (CCAP) model. We apply current information to describe the economic impacts of climate change and highlight the related needs for further information. With regard to regional climate strategy work, we examine the status of adaptation plans by region and the status of the Sámi in national adaptation work. In part 2 of the report, we have collected information on the temporal and local impacts of climate change and compiled extensive tables on changes in weather, climate and marine factors for each of Finland's current regions, the autonomous Åland Islands and five sea areas, the eastern Gulf of Finland, the western Gulf of Finland, the Archipelago Sea, the Bothnian Sea and the Bay of Bothnia. As regards changes in weather and climate factors, the changes already observed in 1991-2020 are examined compared to 1981-2010 and future changes until 2050 are described. For weather and climate factors, we examine average temperature, precipitation, thermal season duration, highest and lowest temperatures per day, the number of frost days, the depth and prevalence of snow, the intensity of heavy rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed, and the amount of frost per season (winter, spring, summer, autumn). Flood risks, i.e. water system floods, run-off water floods and sea water floods, are discussed from the perspective of catchment areas by region. The impacts of floods on the sea in terms of pollution are also assessed by sea area, especially for coastal areas. With regard to marine change factors, we examine surface temperature, salinity, medium water level, sea flood risk, waves, and sea ice. We also describe combined risks towards sea areas. With this report, we demonstrate what is known about climate change adaptation, what is not, and what calls for particular attention. The results can be utilised to strengthen Finland's climate policy so that the implementation of climate change adaptation is strengthened alongside climate change mitigation efforts. In practice, the report serves the reform of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan and the development of steering measures for adaptation to climate change both nationally and regionally. Due to its scale, the report also serves e.g. the United Nations’ aim of protecting marine life in the Baltic Sea and the national implementation of the EU strategy for adaptation to climate change. As a whole, the implementation of adaptation policy in Finland must be speeded up swiftly in order to achieve the objectives set and ensure sufficient progress in adaptation in different sectors. The development of binding regulation and the systematic evaluation, monitoring and support of voluntary measures play a key role.