Conventionally, climate adaptation has been managed by Danish municipalities as an internal, technical matter addressed on ad hoc basis as need for action occurred. Following the increased public and political focus on climate change and an ongoing paradigm shift from Government to Governance, it has been necessary to change the modus operandi in municipal practice. The waste water companies were spun off from the municipalities in 2009, following which the municipalities no longer own the sewage systems that form parts of any preventive climate adaptation against excessive precipitation. Thus, the waste water companies are central players with an essential responsibility and interest in climate adaptation. Other central players are the private property owners because they bear the responsibility of securing their own property against negative climate impact. Therefore, successful implementation of climate adaptation measures requires that municipalities, waste water companies and property owners are able to work together. However, in this three-party interaction, there is a challenge in mobilizing and incentivizing the property owners to engage in joint public and private adaptation efforts. Therefore, in the context of Danish, municipal management, adaptation to climate change is a practice in on-going development.
On basis hereof, this Thesis investigates opportunities and challenges associated with Danish municipalities’ and waste water companies’ climate change adaptation on private property. The investigation is defined to climate change adaptation against excessive precipitation events in private housing in urban areas. The investigation will include an analysis of types of private property and ownership structures; in this context limited to domestic housing and roads. To be able to understand the policy framework, the Thesis will address how climate change adaptation is being implemented in the spatial planning based on current, Danish legislation. The analysis of property ownership structures and the legislative framework will be used to outline which tools the Danish municipalities and waste water companies have to execute climate adaption projects in practice on private property. Finally, case studies will be used as a means to analyze how Danish municipalities use the tools in practice. Thereby, the Thesis will clarify the opportunities and challenges that the municipalities and the municipal waste water companies are facing and provide valid inputs on how to accommodate these.