A Survey of the Perceptions of Regional Political Decision Makers Concerning Climate Change and Adaption in the German Baltic Sea Region

Dr. Grit Martinez; Dennis Bray

A Survey of the Perceptions of Regional Political Decision Makers Concerning Climate Change and Adaption in the German Baltic Sea Region

Publication: Report
Citation: Bray, Dennis and Grit Martinez 2011: A survey of the perceptions of regional political decision makers concerning climate change and adaptation in the German Baltic Sea region. International BALTEX Secretariat Publications, Publication No. 50. Geesthacht.

Ecologic Institute and Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (previously GKSS) conducted an online survey with regional political stakeholders from the German Baltic Sea coast in spring 2011. Eleven hundred actors at the community level in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein were surveyed on their perceptions of climate-induced changes in their communities and possible measures for adapting to climate change. They were also questioned on their experience with using regional climate data and its use in political practice. The report is available for download.

Ten percent of all addressed stakeholders participated in the opinion poll. The analysis of the poll shows that climate change at the German Baltic Sea Coast is being recognized as a problem and that the need for pro-active and quick adaptation measures at the community level is being acknowledged. In order to have a better understanding of possible options for action, the regional stakeholders are in need of further and easily understandable research as well as information on regional issues and needs.

The questionnaire was conducted by Ecologic Institute Berlin and Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, previously GKSS and supported by BALTEX (the Baltic Sea Experiment). Results have been published in German and English. The opinion poll is part of the project RADOST (Regional adaptation measures for the Germany Baltic Sea Coast), which is headed by Ecologic Institute and sponsored within the research program "KLIMZUG-Climate Change in regions" of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Regional political decision makers in other Baltic Sea states will also be interviewed. In this context, meetings with community actors in the coastal regions in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will take place in autumn 2011. Further information is available at Cirum Mare Balticum. Community stakeholders of Baltic communities in Sweden, Denmark and Finland will be addressed by an online-survey.

A report [pdf, 630 KB, English] on the opinion poll at the German Baltic Sea coast is available for download.

Contact

Dr. Grit Martinez

Senior Fellow

Environmental Research = Social Sciences + Humanities + Environmental Science

1 September 2015
Dr. Grit Martinez

News

Between 2009 and 2014 the RADOST project team developed regional adaptation strategies in a dialogue between research institutions, business, public administration and civil society. 36 reports were published as part of the RADOST report series.

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In their book "Social Dimensions of Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Regions" Grit Martinez (Ecologic Institute), Peter Fröhle, and Hans-Joachim Meier address often overlooked but key societal aspects that influence stakeholders to engage or not to engage in adapting to a changing climate. Therefore sociocultural and ecological dimensions of adaptation to a changing climate in coastal regions are the focus of the anthology.

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Languages: German

English
Authorship: Dr. Grit Martinez

Dennis Bray (Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht; Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung)
Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany
Published in: International BALTEX Secretariat Publications, 4
Year: 2011
Dimension: 91 pp.
ISSN: 2192-3140
Project: Regional Adaptation Strategies for the German Baltic Sea Coast (RADOST)
Project ID: 2202
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Introduction
    Background of the opinion poll
    Sample
    Results
    Summary of results
Keywords: Adaptation

Biodiversity

Climate

Culture + Ecology

Governance

climate change, climate adaptation, stakeholder networks

Baltic Sea Coast, Germany, Europe

opinion poll

A Survey of the Perceptions of Regional Political Decision Makers [pdf, 1 MB, English]

Attachments

martinez_11_baltex_policymakers_survey_tolles_layout.pdf (1.05 MB)

Further Links

PublicationReport1. RADOST Jahresbericht

Longer and warmer summers on the German Baltic Sea coast: this is a possible implication of climate change that could certainly also serve as an opportunity for the tourism sector. At the same time however, negative impacts such as increased algae growth are also... Read more

RADOST-Verbund 2011: 1. RADOST-Jahresbericht. Ecologic Institut (Hrsg.), Berlin. RADOST-Berichtsreihe, Bericht No 1.

PublicationReport2. RADOST Jahresbericht

After two years of project work, the second annual report of RADOST (Regional adaption measures for the German Baltic Sea Coast) presents research results and experiences of cooperation with political decision makers in ministries, administrations and communities. The... Read more

RADOST-Verbund 2011: 2. RADOST-Jahresbericht. Ecologic Institut (Hrsg.), Berlin. RADOST-Berichtsreihe, Bericht Nr. 3.

PublicationBook SectionEmerging Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Strategies and Case Studies around the World

Climate change and ongoing transformations in the economy and agriculture will have numerous, strong impacts on the Baltic Region. The book "Global Change and Baltic Coastal Zones" provides comprehensive information on these changes, their consequences and the practical... Read more

Martinez, Grit; Daniel Blobel; Livia Bizikova and Rob Swart 2011: "Emerging Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Strategies and Case Studies around the World", in: Gerald; Hofstede Schernewski, Jacobus; Neumann, Thomas (ed.): Global Change and Baltic Coastal Zones Coastal Research Library, Vol. 1]. Berlin and Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag GmbH, 249-273.

PublicationReportAnpassungsmaßnahmen an der deutschen Ostseeküste

Actors from different levels of government have been the focus of this survey on adaptation to climate change, which was carried out as part of RADOST. Questions are explored, what would be possible climate impacts, what can be understood as adaptation measure on the... Read more

Stelljes, Nico 2012: Anpassungsmaßnahmen an der deutschen Ostseeküste – Auswertung einer qualitativen Befragung von Akteuren auf unterschiedlichen Verwaltungsebenen. RADOST journal series, Report No 13. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

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