HazardSupport

Updated 7 March 2025

Published 16 November 2015

HazardSupport is a project 2015-2020 where SMHI and SEI (Stockholm Environment Institute) collaborate with the aim of developing a risk-based decision support for adaptation to future natural hazards. The project is funded by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB.

In a future climate, some extreme weather events are likely to occur more often, increasing the risk of natural hazards. For society to adapt, it needs quantitative information about the frequency and intensity of these hazards.

Through tailor-made climate effect impact studies and improved collaboration between climate experts, stakeholders and users, improved decision support for climate adaptation can be developed.

Better information about natural hazard occurrence in the future

At present, the use of scientific knowledge is still limited when planning adaptation and implementation.

HazardSupport aims to bring together the scientific perspective with real users' knowledge and needs. An example may be an organization or individual who needs to make design level decisions regarding physical levels or thresholds such as the strength and height of a bridge.

Three case studies with identified key stakeholders

The methods are developed within three case studies with identified key stakeholders for different natural disasters:

Heat waves (City of Stockholm)
Torrential rains and floods (Karlstad and rescue services)
Coastal floods (Länsförsäkringar)

The project is a collaboration between SMHI and SEI (Stockholm Environment Institute).

Researchers from SMHI in the fields of climatology, hydrology, oceanography and air quality contributed to develop new and improve existing methods for climate impact analysis in each area.

SEI used and improved the methods for participatory modeling, surveying stakeholders and decision-making processes.

About the project

Project Goals

To produce guidelines for climate adaptation studies focusing on how stakeholders can obtain the quantitative impacts of climate change necessary for adaptation decisions, as well as take into account constantly updating and changing climate projection information in their adaptation plans.
To produce best scientific practice guidelines for climate experts who carry out tailored climate impact studies for stakeholders.
To establish a science-stakeholder arena for collaboration and mutual learning on climate adaptation and natural hazards