How well prepared are we for future floods?
Not very good, says the insurance industry, which criticizes both Sweden's municipalities and the government.
- Many municipalities have a lot to think about, not just Gävle municipality, says Jenny Rudslätt, claims manager at the insurance company If, and continues:
- Are you properly equipped?
What does it look like with stormwater systems and sewers?
Do they have enough capacity to withstand?
I think you will be warned that you do not have it at the moment and that many municipalities would need to strengthen that dimension.
Want to see flood investigation
Staffan Moberg is a climate change expert at Sveriges Försäkring, an industry organization for insurance companies, and he is harsh in his criticism of the government.
- I think the government is awful at climate adaptation, he says, and continues:
- They work very hard to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but climate adaptation has been left entirely there.
He now wants the state to take greater responsibility for climate adaptation and for the government to appoint a flood investigation, which will study how society should be adapted and how the adjustment should be financed.
- I want the government to become interested in climate adaptation and not just refer to individual authorities taking measures, because it will be a downpour that does not work in society, he says.
SVT Nyheter has asked the government and climate minister Per Bolund (MP) for a comment.
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