Baltic Sea Climate Change Fact Sheet 2021

Description

Jointly developed by Baltic Earth and HELCOM, this publication provides a summary for policy makers of the latest scientific knowledge on how climate change is currently affecting the Baltic Sea and how it is expected to develop in the foreseeable future. The fact sheet is meant to help policy makers to include climate change considerations in their work and decisions. More broadly, it also seeks to inform the public about the effects of climate change in the Baltic Sea.

Current and expected impacts of climate change in the Baltic Sea are described through 34 parameters grouped in physiochemical parameters that are directly affected by climate change (referred as direct parameters), as well as ecosystem and human use parameters that are indirectly affected (indirect parameters).

The first part of this report provides summary information of climate change impacts on each parameter as well as an impact map showing the projected regional changes for a selected suite of parameters under the RCP4.5 climate scenario across the Baltic Sea. The second part of the report gives a more detailed, yet concise, overview of climate change impacts on each parameter - described as key messages. Knowledge gaps and policy relevance (in terms of mitigation and adaptation) are also highlighted in the key messages.

Reference information