A Short Description of the Contribution

The European Green Deal (EGD) presents a comprehensive strategy to address climate and environmental challenges through a “whole economy” approach. Under this framework, the European Commission has proposed over 168 cross-sectoral strategies and initiatives aimed at transforming the EU into a climate-neutral economy by 2050 and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As a key component of the EGD, the 2021 EU Climate Adaptation Strategy promotes “smarter, faster, and more systemic” adaptation across member states. Complementing this, the 2021 European Climate Law—particularly Article 5 —emphasizes the need for meaningful progress in climate adaptation through structured reporting mechanisms.

However, the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events—such as forest fires, heatwaves, floods, and droughts—have led to economic losses exceeding €162 billion between 2021 and 2023. These developments underscore the urgent need to evaluate whether current adaptation strategies in member states are effectively delivering the promised “smarter, faster, and systematic” responses to climate risks.

Despite the reporting requirements, adaptation data from member states remains largely descriptive and lacks quantifiable indicators, making it difficult to assess progress systematically. Furthermore, policy incoherence and institutional limitations in several member states have hindered effective implementation, raising concerns about the adequacy of support from the European Commission and the administrative burden on smaller states.

Sweden, for example, has taken notable steps, including the adoption of a comprehensive Climate Policy Framework in 2017, the 2018 Ordinance on climate adaptation (2018:1428), and a revised strategy in 2024. These measures require 32 national authorities and 21 county administrative boards to develop climate adaptation action plans. Nevertheless, critiques persist regarding insufficient policy coherence, limited institutional collaboration, and the absence of robust assessment mechanisms.

This presentation uses Sweden as a case study to identify potential shortcomings in the implementation of the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy and proposes ways to enhance the effectiveness of Swedish adaptation efforts. The goal is to contribute to the broader success of the EGD and the SDGs.

Key Questions Addressed:

1. Has the European Green Deal systematically integrated climate adaptation into its framework?

2. What measures has Sweden taken to align with the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy and the climate targets of SDG 13?

3. Are Swedish climate adaptation strategies delivering the “smarter, faster, and systematic” outcomes envisioned by the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy and European Climate Law?