Climate adaptation of vital societal functions – a legal investigation

It is neither technically nor financially possible to secure all infrastructure in our cities against all types is Climate related risks. Cities and communities face major challenges in prioritizing between extensive and costly redevelopments versus smaller measures to protect only our vital societal functions & critical infrastructure.

Careful consideration is also required with other interests such as accessibility for all. Challenges exist both organizationally, technically and within in juristiction. The current legislation and the distribution of responsibilities is unclear but places a great deal of responsibility on the property owner, especially when it comes to the already existing infrastructure.

Within the project, we explore the legal possibilities and obstacles for climate adaptation of vital societal functions. More specifically, we intend to investigate:

If it is legally possible for a public or private actor to protect vital societal functions, even if this means a impairment for other actors in the immediate area.
If it is legally possible for e.g. a municipality, region or county board to demand that a public or private actor protect its vital societal functions.
If it is legally possible for a actor with vital societal functions to demand an external party to climate-proof for the benefit of its own infrastructure, citing that it is a vital societal functions.