FH: Climate changes and the future of the Nordic Countries

[Valdemar I]

This thread are inspired by the fact that I read about a report some time ago, which looked at the effect of climate changes in Denmark.

More or less it indicated that by 2100 Denmark would have the climate of central France and the water level would have risen 6-8 meters. Even if the climate problem had been dealt with, we would still see the continued effect of the climate changes which has happen now, creating that result.
It got me thinking that Sweden, Norway and Finland would also be affected. Sweden are bigger than Germany, Finland and Norway a little smaller. If Denmark had the climate of central France, Sweden would have Germanys climate, Norway would have Netherlands climate (through effected by the different topology) and Finland Polands climate.

The social, ecological and demographic effect would be enourmous, on Denmark the least thanks to Denmarks small size, we would likely shift to greater wheat growing, begin to produce wine, but beside the climatic changes it would have little effect. But for the other it would mean that they would suddenly become major food producers, but also that the country would be open up much more to population growth (likely to large extent through immigration).

[Straha]

I suspect alot of Dutch would end up in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

[arctic warrior]

..., begin to produce wine, ...

Well some already do, though I haven't been able to taste the product. :chuckle:

[Laiqualasse]

I think one of the major problems for Denmark would be that you will suddenly find yourselves with half the land area you have now, won't you? The 6-8 meter rise in water level will flood a lot of your territory, am I right?

[Valdemar I]

I suspect alot of Dutch would end up in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

So do I but for significant different reason than you I would guess. Netherlands aren't going to be flooded the Dutch are used to deal with rising water levels, and would easily deal with 6-8 meter more. But a lot of Dutch farmer emigrate and has done so for decades thanks to the rising land prices in Netherland. Denmark are home to 500 Dutch farmer families, it doesn't sound like much, but they are behind 15-20% of the Danish dairy production (they tend to specialise in dairy production). With the Nordic countries climate improving a lot of cheap land are going to be open up for Danish and Dutch farmers, which will be a major source of new agricultural know how and capital.


Well some already do, though I haven't been able to taste the product. :chuckle:

Sadly neither have I, but only one Danish wine grower are able to make enough money, to able to live for it. What we're going to see are people whom are able to make a living producing wine.

I think one of the major problems for Denmark would be that you will suddenly find yourselves with half the land area you have now, won't you? The 6-8 meter rise in water level will flood a lot of your territory, am I right?

Denmark are low lying, but not that low, around 10% of Denmark would be flooded if we did nothing to stop it. But what people often forget when they talk about rising waterlevels are that the people around the North Sea are rich and have much experience with changes in water levels, and will be able to limit the damages of the rising waters. Some land will be given up, but it will be low populated areas, with poor soil quality.

[Valdemar I]

Someone indicated that we would only get 1-2 meter rise, it doesn't changwe thing significant, but we do see some effect.

[Straha]

I was thinking more tax refugee based on the taxes to keep expanding the levees being higher and higher, rather than the dutch flooding out.