ClimeMarine – Climate change predictions for Marine Spatial Planning

Global warming is well underway and climate change will induce alterations and effects on the marine environment for decades or centuries to come. The goal of ClimeMarine is to take a first step towards climate-proofing ecosystem-based management of Swedish seas. This is done by considering the implication of climate change scenarios and associated data uncertainties when developing guidelines for ecosystem-based climate adaptation and Marine Spatial Planning. Through a continuous dialogue and co-creation of research questions, the project investigates opportunities and hindrances for different sectors’ ability to comprehend and integrate climate-change into their decision-making process.

Watch Video provided by: Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (youtube) External link.

Within ClimeMarine, the cumulative impact assessment tool Symphony, developed and used by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water management for Marine Spatial Planning, will be further developed by incorporating the latest climate model data. We hold regular user fora with our stakeholders, where we will promote knowledge-sharing and creativity regarding the application of climate model information for climate adaptation. In addition, the project will investigate how information from Symphony can be utilised in the Swedish national Marine Spatial Planning and associated decision-making processes. Results from the project and the stakeholder dialogue will be available through various national and international conferences, seminars, and workshops, e.g. Almedalsveckan and Havs- och Vattenforum. Results will also be available to the Swedish audience via the web.

Project partners

In the ClimeMarine project, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM), Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), and University of Gothenburg (GU) work together to interpret climate scenarios to create new information and knowledge that can be used to improve the Swedish Marine Spatial Plans. The project will also identify new research priorities through stakeholder discussions and will identify gaps in the knowledge needed to climate-proof marine plans in Sweden.

Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute – SMHI

SMHI develops knowledge and data of the marine environment, both from observations and models. With the help of models, SMHI also simulate how the marine environment might change during the 21th century, based on the latest radiative forcing (RCP) used by the UN International Panel on Climate Change. SMHI leads and coordinates the project and is responsible for delivering climate data and assist with the development of Symphony. In addition, SMHI supports with expertise in climate, physical, and biogeochemical processes in the sea.

Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management – SwAM

In Sweden, SwAM is responsible for marine management and marine spatial planning. SwAM has, together with experts, national authorities, and universities, developed the cumulative impact assessment tool Symphony, which is used in this project. SwAM is responsible for the performance and development of Symphony, as well as implementing the project results into Swedish Marine Spatial Planning.

Geological Survey of Sweden – SGU

SGU aim to increase knowledge about the state of the environment in the seabed and benthic sediments. SGUs marine environment and planning unit provide geodata and geo-analytical support services to SwAM in support of the national Marine Spatial Planning process in Sweden. They undertake regular geological field research and are national data hosts for geological and geochemical information. These data are interpreted for use in marine planning and for planning/identification of marine protected areas. SGU provide geodata and metadata (including quality and uncertainty estimates) for their own data and also assist with gathering, interpretation and analysis of 3rd party data for implementation and development of SwAM’s Symphony tool.

University of Gothenburg – GU

GU has broad research about the marine environment and ecosystems. This includes connectivity in the seascape, how to design marine protected areas, and how marine species and their habitat might change with the ongoing climate change. GU will contribute with databases and expertise about current and future connectivity- and habitat changes as well as theory about how to design marine protected areas and combine this with tools for Marine Spatial Planning.