Infrastructure projects are today major contributors to global warming. However, various strategies for reduction of greenhouse gas emission are available, as described in sustainability assessment schemes and performed in infrastructure projects. Beyond the choice of methodology, greenhouse gas reduction represents an important challenge, namely to engage involved actors. The establishment of a common sustainability policy, reflected in procurement requirements could be a solution. However, often in subject of complications such as misunderstandings or increased cost. Impres, a research project aiming to streamline the process of greenhouse gas reduction in the infrastructure sector, conducts case studies around the world in which useful methods and examples are assimilated. In cooperation with Impres, the present report includes the case study of California High-Speed Rail (CHSR). The aim of this report is to compare strategies for greenhouse gas reduction of sustainability assessment schemes for infrastructure projects, and evaluate the feasibility as procurement requirements. Furthermore, to identify corresponding processes of greenhouse gas reduction in the case study of CHSR, as well as revealing important factors towards realization. The course of work involves a study of the schemes Envision, BREEAM Infrastructure, CEEQUAL, IS Rating System as well as the standard PAS 2080. Regarding the case study, the sustainability policy, procurement requirements and project reports are the main used sources. Moreover, qualitative interviews with involved actors have been performed in California. Finally, to create a comparative matrix for greenhouse gas reduction processes, standards ISO and PAS 2080 have been reviewed. The results show that greenhouse gas criteria of the studied schemes not are mandatory to perform in anyone but PAS 2080. Which means that further requisites might be needed in order for the schemes to be useful as procurement requirements. Furthermore, the outlining of processes reveals a weakness in the setting of a greenhouse gas reference point, and while every scheme includes a greenhouse gas quantity assessment, there is a difference in the priority of reduction. Regarding CHSR, an exclaimed policy goal is to perform climate neutral construction. While procurement requirements are limited to quantification of emitted greenhouse gases and the use of effective construction machinery, which is insufficient to meet the goal. Nevertheless, the Authority in charge is performing CO2 compensating measures, such as planting trees. Finally, a variety of driving forces, success factors and challenges for realizing greenhouse gas reduction have been identified. For example, personal motivation and legislation as driving forces. Whereas, sustainability as a core mission, experience and communication are seen as success factors, and resistance to transfer sustainability goals to procurement is an exclaimed challenge. As a conclusion, sustainability assessment schemes do have certain processes for greenhouse gas reduction in common. However, they present criteria with different degrees of obligation, affecting feasibility as procurement requirements. In CHSR, similar processes are found, where further reduction of greenhouse gases can be achieved, especially by an optimized choice of construction materials. In the end, personal motivation seems to be an important factor for introducing and realizing greenhouse gas reduction goals in infrastructure projects. / Impres

Climate change is affecting several environmental factors and together with socio-economic changes put high pressure on water resources. Climate change manifest itself through increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns and intensities, with knock-on effects on hydrologically-relevant parameters such as water flows, evapotranspiration rates, glacial melt etcetera, all of which have already been observed in the recent past and are predicted to continue in the future. India has the world’s second largest population. The majority of the population live in rural areas and are dependent on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, forestry and fishery. The Indian-Himalayan region supplies 600 million people with water, thus future climate change impacts on the hydrological cycle in the area are of great interest and concern. In order to cope with these predicted impacts, there is a need to adapt to the changing climate. This study combines data analyses from a hydro-climatic modelling campaign (carried out externally to this thesis), a literature review on climate change effects on agriculture and opportunities to adapt to these effects and participatory methods bringing stakeholders and scientists together in order to co-create adaptation options that are suitable to minimise short- and long-term climate change impacts on the water flows of the Ganges and hence agriculture in the region. The study concentrates on two districts in the Indo-Gangetic Plain that are characterised by their high dependency on the farming sector: Uttarkashi (upstream Ganges, Uttarakhand) and Patna (downstream Ganges, Bihar). The analysis of hydro-climatic data based on a modelling campaign focussed on three climate variables that are of significance for agriculture: precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration. To characterise future climates, four climate change projections based on IPCC’s representative concentrations pathways (RCPs) have been chosen: RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, and RCP 8.5. The impacts of these scenarios on the above listed three climate variables are analysed over three time periods: 2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2071-2100, with a special focus on the monsoon months from June to October, as this is the main crop (rice) growing season. The results from the hydro-climatic modelling indicate that the maximum, minimum, and average temperature will be increasing over the next century in both districts. An increase in evapotranspiration can be seen for both districts, with a few exceptions for RCP scenarios 2.6, 6.0 and 8.5 in April and May in Patna, and for all RCP scenarios in April, May and June in Uttarkashi. An increase in maximum and average precipitation can be seen for most RCP scenarios and future time periods (e.g. of exceptions in average precipitation: RCP 4.5 and 8.5 in June and July in the period 2011-2040) during the monsoon period in Patna. Similarly, in Uttarkashi maximum and average precipitation increases for all three time periods and RCP scenarios during the monsoon months of September and August (only for RCP scenarios 2.6 and 8.5). For the remaining months, the precipitation patterns show great variability for all scenarios and both regions. The literature review resulted in a table of adaptation options, where nine out of 63 were considered as transformational adaptation, and enabled identification of possible climate change impacts on agriculture in the two districts. The minimum temperature could result in more severe and intense hailstorms in the future for both districts. The increase in temperature could lead to a prolonged growing season in Uttarkashi, whilst the increase in average and maximum temperature in Patna could lead to heat-stress for the crops. Furthermore, the increase in average and maximum precipitation could lead to more severe and intense natural disasters e.g. landslides in Uttarkashi and floods in Patna. Moreover, the increase in average evapotranspiration combined with the decrease in average precipitation during some months could lead to an increasing need of irrigation. Two workshops were held in the region with the aim to bring together researchers and stakeholders (e.g. famers) in order to jointly discuss 1) the suitability of hydrological modelling data for preparing the agriculture sector to a changing climate, and 2) suggest suitable adaptation options based on researchers’ and stakeholders’ knowledge and experience. Information from the first workshop was obtained by a workshop report, whilst information from the second workshop was obtained from the author’s own participation. The result from the workshop showed that the farmers had several suggestions of suitable adaptation options e.g. implementation of irrigation system and improved access to credit. It also showed that the farmers already adapted to climate change e.g. usage of short- and long duration variations of rice and sowing date adjustment. The combination of these results informed the suggestions for adaptation options for the two districts, namely the development of disaster reduction plans and early warning systems for weather extremes, as well as a diversification of agriculture and more generally livelihoods. In addition, indirect adaptation measures suggested for both districts included insurance schemes against yield failure, improved access to credit schemes, and right/fair market prices. Specific measures for each district were also suggested e.g. heat-tolerant crops in Patna and implementation or irrigation systems in Uttarkashi. / Klimatförändringarna påverkar åtskilliga miljöfaktorer och tillsammans med socioekonomiska förändringar sätter de stort tryck på vattenresurser. Klimatförändringar manifesterar sig i stigande temperaturer och ändrade nederbördsmönster och nederbördsintensitet, med påföljande effekter på hydrologiskt relevanta parametrar så som vattenflöden, evapotranspirationsvärden, smältande glaciärer etcetera, vilka alla är effekter som redan observerats och är förutspådda att fortsätta under innevarande århundrande. Befolkningen i Indien är näst störst i världen. Större delen av befolkningen i Indien bor på landsbygden och är beroende av klimatkänsliga sektorer så som jordbruk, fiske och skogsbruk. Indiska Himalaya förser 600 miljoner människor med vatten, framtida effekter på den hydrologiska cykeln, orsakade av klimatförändringarna i området, är därför av största intresse. För att kunna hantera de framtida effekterna orsakade av klimatförändringarna är det viktigt att implementera klimatanpassningsstrategier. Den här studien kombinerar data analyser från en hydro-klimatisk modelleringskampanj (som är genomförd externt till det här arbetet), litteraturstudie över effekter på jordbruk orsakade av klimatförändringar och möjligheter att anpassa sig till dessa förändringar, samt involverar preferenser och kunskaper från intressenter inom det aktuella området för att kunna identifiera lämpliga klimatanpassningsstrategier. Studien har ett huvudfokus på klimatanpassning för jordbruksområden i två distrikt i Indien: Uttarkashi (uppströms Ganges, Uttarakhand) och Patna (nedströms Ganges, Bihar). Analysen av hydro-klimatisk data, baserad på en modelleringskampanj, fokuserar på tre klimatvariabler som är av betydelse för jordbrukssektor: nederbörd, temperatur, och evapotranspiration. För att kunna karakterisera framtida klimat har IPCCs fyra representativa koncentrationsvägar (RCPs) tagits hänsyn till: RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, och RCP 8.5. Effekterna av dessa scenarier på de tre ovan listade klimatvariablerna är analyserade över tre framtida tidsperioder: 2011-2040, 2041-2070, 2071-2100, med ett speciellt fokus på monsunperioden från juni till oktober. Resultatet från analysen av hydro-klimatisk data indikerar en ökning under århundrandet i minimal, maximal, och genomsnittlig temperatur i båda distrikten. En ökning i evapotranspiration för båda distrikten kunde också identifieras, med några få undantag för RCP 2.6, 6.0 och 8.5 i april och maj i Patna, samt för alla RCP scenarier i april, maj och juni för Uttarkashi. Trender i nederbörd visar en ökning i maximal och genomsnittlig nederbörd för nästan alla scenarier under monsunperioden i Patna (exempel på scenarier där den genomsnittliga nederbörden inte ökar är RCP 4.5 och 8.5 i juni och juli under perioden 2011-2040). En ökning i maximal och genomsnittlig nederbörd identifierades i september för alla RCP scenarier och framtidsperioder, samt i augusti för RCP 2.6 och 8.5 i Uttarkashi. Kvarvarande månader visar på stor variabilitet i nederbörd för alla scenarier i båda distrikten. Litteraturstudien resulterade i en tabell med klimatanpassningsstrategier, där nio av 63 ansågs vara transformerande, samt identifierade möjliga effekter på jordbruket i de två distrikten orsakade av klimatförändringar. Ökningen i minimal temperatur kan leda till mer allvarliga och intensifierade hagelstormar i framtiden. Temperaturökningen kan i Uttarkashi leda till förlängd odlingssäsong medan ökningen i genomsnittlig och maximal temperatur kan leda till värmestress på grödorna i Patna. Vidare gäller att ökningen i maximal och genomsnittlig nederbörd kan leda till mer allvarliga naturkatastrofer i framtiden som exempelvis jordskred i Uttarkashi och översvämningar i Patna. Ökningen i evapotranspiration kombinerat med minskningen i genomsnittlig nederbörd under vissa månader skulle kunna leda till ett ökat bevattningsbehov. Två ”worskhops” anordnades i regionen med målet att sammanföra forskare och intressenter (exempelvis bönder) för att gemensamt diskutera 1) lämpligheten av användandet av hydrologiskt modellerad data för att förbereda jordbruket på klimatförändringar, och 2) föreslå lämpliga klimatanpassningsstrategier baserat på forskarnas och intressenternas kunskap och erfarenheter. Informationen från den första workshopen erhölls genom en workshoprapport, medan informationen i den andra workshopen erhölls genom författarens eget deltagande i workshopen. Resultatet från workshopen visade på att bönderna hade flertalet egna föreslag vad gäller lämpliga klimatanpassningsstrategier så som exempelvis implementerande av bevattningssystem och ökade kreditmöjligheter. Bönderna hade även börjat anpassa sig till klimatförändringar genom exempelvis ha lång- och korttids variationer av ris samt att de hade flyttat på datumet för sådden. Kombinationen av hydro-klimatisk data, litteratur och intressentpreferenser och kunskap möjliggjorde förslag på klimatanpassningsstrategier i de två distrikten. Strategier för att reducera skador på grödor och jordbruksmark orsakade av extrema händelser, varningssystem som varnar i ett tidigt skede, och diversifiering av försörjning är direkta klimatanpassningsstrategier som identifierades för båda distrikten. Försäkringslösningar, ökade kreditmöjligheter, och ett rättvist marknadspris var indirekta anpassningsstrategier som identifierats för båda distrikten. Även specifika anpassningsstrategier för respektive distrikt har identifierats, där exempelvis värme-tåliga grödor identifierades som viktigt för Patna och implementering av bevattningssystem identifierades som extra viktigt för Uttarkashi.

Access to modern energy services derived from renewable sources is a prerequisite, not only for economic growth, rural development and sustainable development, but also for energy security and climate change mitigation. The least developed countries (LDCs) primarily use traditional biomass and have little access to commercial energy sources. They are more vulnerable to problems relating to energy security, air pollution, and the need for hard-cash currency to import fossil fuels. This thesis evaluates sugarcane-molasses bioethanol, a renewable energy source with the potential to be used as a transport fuel in Nepal. Sustainability aspects of molasses-based ethanol have been analyzed. Two important indicators for sustainability, viz. net energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) balances have been used to assess the appropriateness of bioethanol in the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework. This thesis has found that the production of bioethanol is energy-efficient in terms of the fossil fuel inputs required to produce it. Life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from production and combustion are also lower than those of gasoline. The impacts of important physical and market parameters, such as sugar cane productivity, the use of fertilizers, energy consumption in different processes, and price have been observed in evaluating the sustainability aspects of bioethanol production. The production potential of bioethanol has been assessed. Concerns relating to the fuel vs. food debate, energy security, and air pollution have also been discussed. The thesis concludes that the major sustainability indicators for molasses ethanol in Nepal are in line with the goals of sustainable development. Thus, Nepal could be a good example for other LDCs when favorable governmental policy, institutional set-ups, and developmental cooperation from donor partners are in place to strengthen the development of renewable energy technologies. / QC 20101029

Climate colonialism is a form of neo-colonialism that turns climate actions into colonial behaviour, this is especially true when the focus is on indigenous peoples. The republic of Marshall Islands is under threat of disappearing because of climate change and even though they want to fight it the United States prefer that they be removed from their homelands. In the Oaxaca region of Mexico, the native population are manipulated or forced to move from their lands because of the growing wind power industry and in Sweden the state has given a questionable greenlight to a company to start building a mine in the middle of the sami-landscape. This thesis argues that all these situations are a form of climate colonialism and follows the theory of neo-colonialism to understand how climate colonialism functions.

Over the last two decades, biophilic design and green architecture have been gaining moremomentum throughout the world, to combat climate change and promote sustainability.Biophilic design states that humans have an innate connection with nature, and thatconnection invokes human well-being, productivity, coexistence with nature, andbiodiversity. It is estimated that by 2050, over 65% of people will live in urban settings, which should incentivize biophilic design oriented urban planning. Introducing biophilic design aspects in neighbourhoods can create environments for betterconnection between residents, and with nature. This research evaluates the affordability ofbiophilic designed apartments and if there is a correlation between the biophilic designintensity and the price tag. Research also aims to review the importance and barriers of biophilic design apartments among urban oriented academics and architects using semi-structured interviews. This paper intends to fill a research gap and provide a comprehensive understanding of affordability of biophilic designed apartments, in varying geographicalareas. The analysis was done in three steps of mixed methodology using a housing affordabilityindex, a biophilic pattern score and interviews. The findings highlight the crisis of housingunaffordability, specifically proving biophilic design apartments are severely unaffordableusing quantitative research. The study also established neutral correlation between thebiophilic patterns intensity and apartment affordability index of the selected buildingsamples. Thus, there is further research needed to find the causes of housing unaffordability,which directly equates to the health and quality of people. The research gave insights onreasoning behind low prevalence of biophilic design apartments. To summarise, the studyhighlights an important issue of unaffordability that needs to be addressed by stakeholderslike the government, planning committee, architects, and real estate developers.

Energy communities (ECs) are considered in the European Union as an important instrument in accelerating the transition to clean energy, with a focus on just transition and social sustainability. In Sweden, ECs are mentioned in various laws and regulations, but there is no specific legislation dedicated to ECs. However, the transformative potential of ECs in the energy market has begun to be recognized in Sweden, and various organizations are engaging and networking with or in ECs. Therefore the aim of this thesis is to explore the engagement and network building of various organizations with or in ECs as a concept and as a practice, forged in the efforts to decarbonise the energy system in Sweden. This aim will contribute to e better understanding of how the just energy transition agenda embodied in the Clean Energy Package, is shaped in practice in the Swedish context through these engagements and networks. For the explorative aim of this thesis a qualitative method is used. Eleven interviews with different typologies of organizations, from different localities in Sweden were conducted for the data collectioon, while the results of the thesis were provided through conducting discourse analysis approach. The results of the thesis show that the political ideas underpining the engagement and networking of various organizations with or in ECs were related with their aim to influence the change in energy and climate policy, community engagemnt and sustainability. The new alliances forged, especially at the local level, between ECs and other actors in the energy market have similarities with social movements. Despite it was limited the exploration of elements of energy democracy, these new dynamics created from ECs in the energy market in Sweden has raised the recognition of their potential for energy transition.

Plants associated with the historical agricultural landscape are threatened. Land-use changes causing loss, fragmentation and degradation of semi-natural grassland habitats have resulted in many species becoming Red Listed. In addition, climate change favours generalist species, which risk outcompeting the specialist semi-natural grassland species. Conservation of small remnants of historical meadows and pastures left in landscapes has, on the other hand, proved to be of great importance for conservation of these species. A better understanding of how thespecies are affected by climate and land-use changes is essential for long-term and effective conservation plans and restoration measures. With this large-scale study, covering the whole of southern and central Sweden (ca 210000 km2), I investigated spatial variations in the number of retained semi-natural grassland species, and whether the proportion of retained distribution varies between species in different Red-List categories. Recently digitized data on the historical distribution of Swedish vascular plants made it possible to compare the historical and contemporary distributions of species on a large scale. Historical and current data of species distribution, climate and land use, and the presence of valuable grasslands were used to investigate the effects of changes in land use and climate on the species. Over 200 semi-natural grassland species were included in the analysis. The results showed that 34% of the seminatural grassland species in the study were Red Listed. There were spatial variations in retained distribution of species and the proportion of retained distribution varied between different Red-List categories. Species in the most critical category, CR had the lowestproportion retained distribution (median=0.39) and not Red Listed species the highest (median=0.95). The proportion of valuable semi-natural grasslands had a positive effect on retained distribution of species, while retention of open habitats had a negative effect, the lattercontradicting previous studies. Retention of species turned out not to be affected by climate change, which previous studies have suggested, but it was positively affected by a historically colder climate. The results of the study show the importance of preserving and restoring seminatural grasslands to reduce negative effects from other influencing factors, and that spatial differences in the effects are important to consider. The study underscores the need for more knowledge to understand the full impact of the threats that land-use change and climate change pose to these species. / Kärlväxter associerade till det historiska odlingslandskapet är hotade. Förändrad markanvändning med förlust, fragmentering och degradering av habitaten som resultat har lett till att ett stort antal av dessa arter numer är rödlistade. Dessutom hotas arterna ytterligare av klimatförändringar som gynnar generalistarter som då riskerar att konkurrera ut de mer specialiserade hävdgynnade gräsmarksarterna. Bevarandet av små kvarvarande ängs- och betesmarker har däremot visat sig ha stor betydelse för bevarandet av dessa arter. En ökad förståelse för hur arterna påverkas av förändringar i klimat och markanvändning är avgörande för långsiktiga och effektiva bevarandeplaner och restaureringsåtgärder. Med denna storskaliga studie över hela södra och mellersta Sverige undersöker jag spatiala variationer i antalet bevarade hävdgynnade gräsmarksarter, samt om andelen bibehållen utbredning varierar mellan arter i olika rödlistningskategorier. Nyligen digitaliserade data om svenska kärlväxters historiska utbredning gjorde det möjligt att jämföra arters historiska och nutida utbredning i stor skala. Historiska och aktuella data om arters utbredning, klimat och markanvändning, samt förekomsten av värdefulla gräsmarker användes för att undersöka effekterna av förändringar i markanvändning och klimat på hävdgynnade gräsmarksarter. Över 200 hävdgynnade gräsmarksarter inkluderades i analyserna. Resultaten visade att 34% av arterna i studien var rödlistade. Det fanns spatiala variationer i arternas bibehållna utbredningar och proportionen bibehållen utbredning varierade mellan olika rödlistningskategorier. Arter i den mest kritiska rödlistningskategorin CR hade lägst proportion bibehållen utbredning (median= 0,39), medan de ej rödlistade arterna den högsta (median=0,95). Proportionen värdefulla ängs- och betesmarker hade en positiv effekt på arters bevarade utbredning och bevarad öppen mark hade en negativ effekt, det senare i motsats till tidigare studiers resultat. Arternas bibehållna utbredning visade sig inte påverkats av klimatförändringarna, vilket tidigare studier visat på, ett historiskt kallare klimat hade däremot positiva effekter. Studiens resultat visar på vikten av att bevara och restaurera hävdpräglade marker för att minska negativa effekter från andra påverkansfaktorer och att spatiala skillnader i effekterna är viktiga att beakta. Studien understryker att mer kunskap behövs för att förstå de totala effekterna av de hot som förändrad markanvändning och klimatförändringar utgör för dessa arter.

Tenerife is experiencing challenges with its drinking water resources because of climate change and overtourism. The prior lone use of groundwater as drinking water source must now be complemented by desalinated saltwater. This has resulted in an increased use of drinking water on plastic bottles, which has led to large amounts of plastic waste on the island. Even with an implemented deposit system for plastic bottles in the capital, a high consumption of plastic bottles for drinking water remains. This study thereby aims to research tourists and locals’ habits and opinions of tap water consumption on Tenerife. The study aims to answer why tourists and locals do not drink the tap water on the island today and what their opinions are towards a reduced use of plastic bottles for drinking water consumption on Tenerife. The study also answers which actions could be taken to change tourists’ and locals’ consumption of drinking water in plastic bottles towards a primary consumption of tap water. A literature study was conducted to explore water consumption and plastic waste on Tenerife. A survey study was performed on 155 respondents of tourists and locals’ habits and opinions considering drinking water and plastic bottle waste. The results showed that most of the respondents avoid tap water with fear of food poisoning or insecurity of how it will affect their long-term health. Most of the respondents are positive towards a reduced use of plastic bottles for drinking water on Tenerife. Both tourists and locals answered that they would drink the tap water if they knew that it was safe and had a good taste. Actions that can be taken for changing the habits of using plastic bottles for drinking water are; informing the locals and tourists on the safety of the tap water and developing the water systems to improve the taste of the tap water. The study indicates the need for actions to increase the assurance in the quality and safety of tap water on Tenerife. This could improve the transition towards a more sustainable consumption of drinking water, help reduce the use of plastic bottles on the island and, is a step in the right direction towards the Sustainable development goals.

Myrmarker har en stor roll i regleringen av den globala kolbalansen och koncentrationerna av koldioxid och metan i atmosfären, vilket gör dem till speciellt viktiga ekosystem ur ett klimatförandringsperspektiv. Förändringar av myrmarker genom naturlig utveckling eller antropogen påverkan kan därför få långtgående störningar av myrars klimatreglerande funktion. Mikroorganismer har en avgörande roll i biogeokemiska processer genom att t ex bryta ned organisk material i mark och därmed styra kolets kretslopp. För att förstå hur myrsystemen reagerar på störningar är det därför väsentligt att veta hur mikroorganismsamhällena reagerar genom förändringar i sammansättning och biogeokemisk aktivitet. Målet för studierna, som ligger till grund för denna avhandling, var att undersöka hur mikroorganismsamhällen i myrar reagerar på uppvärmning genom klimatförändring och ökade kväve- (N) och svavel- (S) halter i nederbörd. High through-put sekvensering användes för att studera taxonomiska och funktionella egenskaper hos mikroorganismerna i myrar och quantative PCR användes för att mer specifikt studera de metanbildande arkeorna. Två fältkampanjer vardera omfattande tre ombrotrofa myrar med olika klimatförhållanden och olika mängder N och S inederbörden användes för att undersöka lokala och storskaliga effekter på myrars mikrobiella samhällen. Resultaten visade att latudinell variation i geoklimatologiska förhållanden (temperatur ochnederbördsmängd) och deposition av näringsämnen hade en påverkan på sammansättningen av de mikrobiella samhällena och aktiva metanbildare förr än variationen i den kemiska miljön inom varje specifik myr. Myrväxtsamhällenas sammansättning för en specifik myr visades sig i stor utsträckning styra sammansättningen av motsvarande mikrobiella samhälle i torvprofilen. Detta framgick klart av i en analys av samexisterande nätverk av mikroorganismsamhällen och motsvarande växtsamhällen i en studie av tre geografiskt skilda myrar med olika kvävedeposition. Effekterna av klimatförändring och nederbörd med olika mängder av N och S studerades mer specifikt genom att analysera de mikrobiellasamhällena i  ett långliggande (18 år) försök. Påverkan av var och en av dessa manipulationer antingen förstärktes eller minskades, när de förekom i kombinationer. Ökad kvävedeposition var den faktor som hade starkast effekt. De långvariga störningarna medförde stora förändringar i den mikrobiella taxonomin inom samhällena. Detta återspeglades dock inte i den fysiologiska kapaciteten, vilket visar att det finns en stark buffring i myrarnas mikrobiella funktion. Detta tyder på att framtida utveckling av myrar i relation till olika störningar sannolikt inte kommer att påverka myrarnas roll för kolbalans och växthusgasutbyte med atmosfären. / Peatlands play a substantial role in regulating the global carbon balance and concentrations of the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere, and are thus of utmost importance from a climate change perspective. Any changes of peatland functions due to natural or anthropogenic perturbations may result in changes in these ecosystem services. Soil microbial communities are essential drivers of biogeochemical processes, including the carbon cycle. In order to fully understand the effect of environmental perturbations on peatland functions, it is essential to understand how microbial communities are affected. The aim of the research presented in this thesis was to investigate the responses of the peat microbial communities to climate change and increased precipitation of nitrogen(N) and sulfur (S) compounds. High-throughput sequencing approaches were used to investigate the taxonomic and functional composition of microbial communities, and quantitative PCR was used to specifically target the methanogen community. Two field studies including three ombrotrophic peatlands each that differed in climatological conditions and atmospheric N and S depositions, were used to investigate and compare the effect of large- and local-scale environmental conditions on microbial communities. The results show that the variation in geo-climatological (temperature and precipitation) and atmospheric deposition conditions along the latitudinal gradient modulate the peat microbial community composition and the abundance of active methanogens to a greater extent thansite-related microhabitats. Furthermore, a tight coupling between the plant community composition of a site and the composition of its microbial community was observed, and was found to be mainly driven by plants rather than microorganisms. These co-occurrence networks are strongly affected by seasonal climate variability and the interactions between species in colder areas are more sensitive to climate change. The long-term effects of warming and increased N and S depositions on the peat microbial communities were further investigated using an 18-year in-situ peatland experiment simulating these perturbations. The impacts of each of these perturbations on the microbial community were found to either multiply or counteract one another, with enhanced N deposition being the most important factor. While the long-term perturbations resulted in a substantial shift in the taxonomic composition of microbial communities, only minor changes occurred in genome-encoded functional traits, indicating a functional redundancy. This could act as a buffer maintaining ecosystem functioning when challenged by multiple stressors, and could limit future changes in greenhouse gases and carbonexchange.

Havsstrandängar av EU-kod 1330 har en utbredning från atlantkusten till Öresund. Längs med Hallands kust finns salta strandängar utspridda. Habitatet är hem för många hotade och ohotade arter och har krav på finkorniga jordarter samt topografi med låg höjd och sluttning. Genom bete eller slåtter hålls strandängarna öppna. Klimatförändringar påverkar den globala havsnivån och kommer påverka strandängarna negativt. Genom en GIS-analys går det att beräkna strandsförluster samt ta fram potentiella marker för nyetablering. Resultatet visar att stora areella försluter drabbar Hallands strandängar. 87,9% av befintliga strandängar kommer gå förlorade vid en havsnivåhöjning på 1m. Resultatet visar också att det finns möjligheter för nyetablering av salta strandängar. Arealen för potentiell nyetablering är större än den strandängsareal som finns idag vilket ses som ett positivt resultat. GIS-analysen ger en indikation om vad som kommer att ske med Hallands salta strandängar men för att nya marker ska kunna fungera som strandängar måste aktiva åtgärder vidtas. Både omföring av befintliga markslag och åtgärdsprogram som kan underlätta för strandängarna att återetablera sig vid eventuella havsnivåhöjningar. / Coastal meadows of the EU-code 1330 have a range reaching from the Atlantic coast to the Öresund including all along the coastline of Halland. The habitat is home to many species, including many that are threatened and have requirements for fine-grained soils with low height and slope. Grazing and haymaking keep these species rich meadows open. Climate change, however, affects global sea level and is projected to negatively affect on the salt meadows. Through a GIS analysis, meadow losses due to sea level rise are calculated. The result shows large losses of meadows in Halland, a full 87.9% of the existing meadows are projected to be lost in a sea level rise of 1m. In addition to these concerns, the result also shows that there are opportunities for establishment of new salt meadows. In fact, the area for potential new meadows is greater than what’s available today, which is considered as a positive result. In conclusion, GIS analysis provides an indication of what may happen with salt meadows in Halland due to climate change, losses and potential compensation. However, if new areas are to serve as meadows, active measures must be taken. Necessary actions include both change of existing land types and effort that can help the meadows to re-establish themselves in the event of sea level rises.