Yvonne Andersson-Sköld

Managing climate change vulnerabilities: formal institutions and knowledge use as determinants of adaptive capacity at the local level in Sweden

Though managing vulnerabilities posed by climate change calls for effective strategies and measures, its challenges have hitherto not been fully understood. In Sweden, municipalities have recently started incorporating vulnerability management into their political and administrative agendas. This study discusses such experiences and explores how institutional determinants may influence adaptive capacity within a local case study area, to illustrate emerging challenges and opportunities for Swedish municipalities in managing climate vulnerabilities. Specifically, formal institutional structure and the use of knowledge are analysed, concluding that vulnerability management often is focused on technical and reactive fixes, due to limited co-operation between local sector organisations, lack of local co-ordination, and an absence of methods and traditions to build institutional knowledge. Even so, opportunities, such as a high capacity to examine risks to technical systems and important establishments which in turn facilitates protection of technical infrastructure exposed to climate variability and change, also exist.

Cities’ capacity to manage climate vulnerability: experiences from participatory vulnerability assessments in the lower Göta Älv Catchment, Sweden

Within the scope of this project, tools for conducting systematic and integrated climate vulnerability and sustainability assessments have been developed. Two municipalities in the lower Göta Älv catchment were selected as study cases. Together with representatives from key municipal departments and national government agencies, the interdisciplinary research team designed and conducted a co-production process. Results obtained using the developed tools demonstrate that conducting such a systematic assessment of the current situation and potential impacts of climate change adaptation measures would contribute to synergies between adaptation strategies and other policy arenas. Our recommendation for enhancing the capacity of local vulnerability management in Sweden is to shift foci in four fields: from static analysis of climate vulnerability to a dynamic approach to social vulnerability, from a sector-wise fragmented approach to integrated management, from a focus on technical fixes and physical measures to institutional adaptation measures, and, finally, from sustainability-blind adaptation investments to long-term sustainable climate adaptation measures. The processes and mechanisms for succeeding in this requires that knowledge be produced, shared, and managed in partly new ways, allowing stakeholders both inside and outside local government administration to voice and synergise their concerns and solutions.

Risk management and regeneration of brownfields using bioenergy crops

PurposeThe potential of phytoremediation, as a cost-effective in situ alternative to conventional technologies for remediation of contaminated brownfields, has often been pointed out. Yet, phyto-technologies have failed to find widespread adoption in practice. To gain social and commercial acceptance of these technologies, there is a clear requirement of field studies that provide information on success and failures. The aim of this study was to investigate benefits and potential risks with phyto-stabilisation on brownfields using bioenergy-crops.Materials and methodsTwo field trials with willow (Salix Klara and Salix Inger) were set up aiming for phyto-stabilisation on metal-contaminated sites. By the use of a tiered risk assessment approach, the cultivation’s effect on ecological risks in different environmental compartments, such as soil, porewater and up-take to biota (including potential risks for wild grazers), was investigated before the cultivation was started and during following three growth seasons. Growth assessments were also made to evaluate the biomass’ potential revenue.Results and discussionThe risks to the soil fauna proved to be unchanged or declining. The uptake in the plants was, as aimed for, low to moderate, and the growth rate depended on the soil texture rather than the contamination level of the sites. The low uptake indicated a negligible risk for wild grazers. The field trials were accomplished using no, or low, amounts of amendments, minimum soil interventions, no, or very simple, weeding control and conducted at sites with low annual temperature. Despite harsh conditions, the biomass production was high enough to potentially provide revenue.ConclusionsThis study shows that cultivation of brownfields using phytostabilising willow clones can reduce the ecological risks, improve the soil quality of the site and provide revenue if the biomass is sold for e.g. bioenergy production. By choosing phytostabilisation willow clones, potential risks associated with phytoextraction of metals, such as biomass combustion and food chain transfer of metals, were eliminated. Consequently, using bioenergy crops for phytostabilisation on brownfields can contribute to preserve and improve ecosystem services, create economic regeneration of these areas and at the same time be a sustainable risk management option.

Sustainable decisions on the agenda – a decision support tool and its application on climate-change adaptation

A decision support tool aiming to facilitate discussion and transparency in land-use planning processes has been developed. It includes process steps initiating with an analysis of the current situation, identification of relevant actions and sustainability analysis steps. The sustainability was subdivided into human health and environment, resources, and social and economic impacts. The main difference between this risk analysis tool and others is the allowance of comparisons of present risks and consequences of measures early in the process. It also includes assessments from short- and long-term perspectives, such as taking into account climate change. It combines classic risk analysis with life-cycle assessment procedure. It has been developed and tested in co-operation with municipalities. The tests show that the tool is applicable and can be relevant in the planning process. It offers an iterative discussion framework that is systematic, condensed and yet a simplistic way of describing consequences. The criticism is that it is regarded as time demanding, but this can be managed by preparatory work.

Local Gain, Global Loss: The Environmental Cost of Action

Lower toxicity and less pollution is the goal of all soil remediation. We are willing to spend money and time to achieve this. And our action of treating the soil causes new pollution in its turn.

Simulations of ozone formation from different emission sources in sweden

An emission inventory concerning volatile organic compounds (VOC) and their emission profile linked to their sources in Sweden has been undertaken. The inventory has been used in model simulations to predict the ozone formation from different emission source categories in Sweden. The studies have been carried out using the IVL photochemical trajectory model for two types of air masses which describes clean and polluted air. In Sweden mobile sources contribute to 45 % by mass of the total national VOC emissions, 58 % of the NOx emissions and to at least 43 % of the ozone formation from national sources. In general, the ozone formation in Sweden is more dependent and sensitive to emissions of NOx rather than VOC.

Ion Exchange as a Cause of Natural Restabilisation of Quick Clay – A Model Study

Quick clay may be stabilised by increased magnesium concentrations in the pore water. Weathering has so far been cited as the source of magnesium, but is an unlikely process at 15 m depth in clays, where an increase was found at a test site in the south of Sweden. This study investigates how far ion exchange can explain the source of magnesium. A rough model in the program PHREEQC incorporating ion exchange, but not weathering, is used to model geochemical and transport processes since the latest ice age in a soil profile in the Gota River valley. Rain water, or rain water with added calcium or magnesium carbonate, is used as infiltrating solution. Calcium or magnesium could come from weathering in the dry crust. Advection, diffusion and ion exchange are sufficient to approximate concentrations in the pore water, if the infiltrating water contains calcium. Weathering at depths below 5 m is not included in the model, but observations of magnesium are reproduced nevertheless. The magnesium comes from the sea water at the end of the latest ice age and has been stored on the ion exchange sites in the clay. The magnesium is displaced into the pore water when calcium enters the soil, is transported downwards, and partly re-enters the exchange sites. The rough model supports the importance of ion exchange for the restabilisation of quick clay by natural magnesium at this site.

Bioenergy grown on contaminated land - a sustainable bioenergy contributor?

A consequence of the rapidly increasing demand for bioenergy is an increasing demand for land for growing energy crops. Therefore, the utilization of arable land for this production is believed to increase. Meanwhile, larger areas of arable land are also needed to ensure the supply of food to the growing world population. Growing energy crops in areas that are not suitable for food production such as brownfields, this controversy can partly be solved and several other environmental benefits can be achieved at the same time. The total environmental impact of bioenergy cultivation on contaminated land depends on the full cultivation chain including the handling of bioenergy residues and the full chain is important in the risk- and environmental assessments.

Effects of ground surface permeability on the growth of urban linden trees

Street trees are an important part of urban vegetation due to their provisioning of different types of ecosystem services such as local climate regulation and contribution to aesthetical and recreational values. In order to provide these services, urban trees need to endure many stress factors not present in natural environments, such as the widespread use of impervious surfaces in the vicinity of street trees. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of this potential stress factor on urban tree growth. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate how ground surface permeability affects stem and current-year shoot growth of linden (Tilia europaea) street trees in Gothenburg, Sweden. We found that a small fraction of permeable ground surface in the vertically projected tree crown area caused lower stem growth and strongly suppressed current-year shoot growth. This finding can guide future city planning, demonstrating that the vitality of street trees is compromised when the permeable surface area in the vicinity of the tree is small.

Effective and Sustainable Flood and Landslide Risk Reduction Measures: An Investigation of Two Assessment Frameworks

Natural events such as floods and landslides can have severe consequences. The risks are expected to increase, both as a consequence of climate change and due to increased vulnerabilities, especially in urban areas. Although preventive measures are often cost-effective, some measures are beneficial to certain values, while some may have negative impacts on other values. The aim of the study presented here was to investigate two frameworks used for assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of physical and nonphysical flood and landslide risk reduction measures. The study is based on literature, available information from authorities and municipalities, expert knowledge and experience, and stakeholder views and values. The results indicate that the risks for suboptimization or maladaptation are reduced if many aspects are included and a broad spectrum of stakeholders are involved. The sustainability assessment tools applied here can contribute to a more transparent and sustainable risk management process by assessing strategies and interventions with respect to both short- and long-term perspectives, including local impacts and wider environmental impacts caused by climate change, for example. The tools can also cover social and economic aspects. The assessment tools provide checklists that can support decision processes, thus allowing for more transparent decisions.