Climate change and land use

The IPCC report shows the importance of land use in terms of the emission and capture of greenhouse gases; carbon stocks and climate measures in natural and managed ecosystems; ecosystem services; food security; desertification and land degradation; and the effect on natural environments.

Land use and climate change are discussed in a global perspective. The report does not provide specific answers to how individual countries’ climate, land use and agriculture policies should be developed. When global reports are taken further in Norwegian politics, they must be interpreted based on our location-specific criteria.

The IPCC highlights the significance of knowledge for better land management.  Knowledge of land is one of NIBIO’s core activities. For more than a century, the institute has been developing methods and continuously improving its knowledge base on forest resources, land use and land-use change.

The IPCC demonstrates the significance of the “global food system,” in which the climate, land degradation, biodiversity and food security must be balanced. The solutions in each country must be based on in-depth knowledge of the particular conditions and advantages of local food systems.

NIBIO is present in in all Norwegian regions and has in-depth knowledge of soil, forests, plants and ecosystems. This knowledge is fundamental to understanding and developing Norwegian land use. Our research looks for answers to how forestry and food production can be developed based on Norwegian location-specific criteria while helping to solve global challenges.

To balance the various considerations, land productivity must be increased, land-use changes curbed, cultivation methods improved, and soil and carbon stocks protected. These challenges are just as relevant in Norway as in the rest of the world and are at the heart of NIBIO’s scientific activities.