It is generally accepted that human emissions of greenhouse gases upset the thermal balance of the earth-atmosphere system and ultimately lead to global climate change.

A central estimate for the Nordic Region is that by 2100 the temperature will have increased by about 3 degrees centigrade, average rainfall will be 10% higher and the sea level may have raised 40 cm. A Nordic Energy Research project has been initiated to study the impacts these changes will have on for example the production of renewable energy, the amount of energy consumed and so on.