Climate change adaptation

 

Logo Noradapt

The Norwegian Research Centre on Sustainable Climate Change Adaptation (Noradapt) was established in Sogndal, in 2018 and is managed by Western Norway Research Institute. The centre aims to offer research-based answers to society’s needs in the face of a changing climate. Importantly, the centre emphasizes sustainability in its approach to climate change adaptation, promoting solely adaptation measures that do not conflict with the goal of sustainable development.

Noradapt consists of several scientific partners, including Center for International Climate Research (CICERO)Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET)Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)Nordland Research InstituteSINTEF CommunityNorwegian University of Science and Technology (Department of Geography) and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Noradapt is managed by Professor Carlo Aall at Western Norway Research Institute. To read more about Noradapt, please visit the centre’s website.

In the Norwegian context, Western Norway Research Institute was a pioneer in carrying out research on how society could respond to climate change through adaptation measures. Since 2005, we have cooperated with municipalities, private and public enterprises, various organizations and national authorities to ensure that climate change adaptation is conducted on a sound scientific basis. WNRI’s scientific contribution is social science-based, but we work in close cooperation with climate experts in the natural sciences.

Our research on local vulnerability to the consequences of climate change, we have moved into the realm of preparedness and societal security. In 2015-17, WNRI produced a collection of popular articles on various aspects of climate change adaptation for publication on the national web portal for climate change adaptation. Also, the institute has been selected in connection with a number of major calls by KS FoU in this field of research.

Key regional partners include The County Governor of VestlandSogn og Fjordane County MunicipalityInnovation Norway - Sogn og FjordaneKS Sogn og FjordaneThe National Public Roads Administration’s Western RegionThe Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate’s Western RegionThe Norwegian Glacier Museum & Ulltveit-Moe Climate Centre, and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). Since 2016, this regional partnership has organized an annual, national conference in Sogndal on climate change adaptation.

 

Publications

Projects

Articles

  • Fem unge menneske rundt PC og bord med gule lappar

    From 16.-17. of November, a set of research institutions in western Norway organise an inter-disciplinary climate change adaptation workshop of particular relevance to practitioners in municipalities. "In recent years, nature-based solutions have been gaining interest from the government and a growing number of municipalities are catching on as well," says Hanna Kvamsås, a researcher at Norce.

  • Ung mann med mygg/mikrofon står framfor eit lerret med grafar og kart på

    A new service called Norwegian Climate Monitor was launched on 13 December 2021 in Sogndal. The purpose of the initiative is to collect and share new data on climate change adaptation from all parts of society. "This is an important contribution to Norwegian society" says Carlo Aall, the Head of Noradapt. "Bot research and governance are impatient to learn how far climate adaptation measures have come. Unfortunately, our data show that the pace remains too slow", says Aall.

  • Kvinne i grå genser og rosa skjerf talar til forsamling

    Noradapt, a national research centre on climate change adaptation led by WNRI, etablished an international Scientific Advisory Board this month. The board includes five international top scientists in the field of climate change adaptation. The board is led by Sirkku Juhola, Professor of Urban Environmental Policy at the University of Helsinki.

  • Foto

    A short-length art film launched on 23 September touches on the feeling that something about our climate has irrevocably changed. The film, entitled «Hvítr», is directed and filmed by Johan Wildhagen and features original music by his daughter, the artist Fay Wildhagen.

  • Case 1
    fjell og himmel

    This case are investigating how the reduction of beach availability and increased temperatures will have an impact on the attractiveness of the Balearic Islands as a tourist destination.

  • Case 2
    himmel og eng

    The aim of this case study is to analyze the economic impacts of climate change and adaptation on particular critical infrastructures.