Local climate and environmental policy

Western Norway Research Institute has conducted research on local and regional environmental policy for some 30 years. The sustainability goal has continued to play an integral part in this research.

At the local level of governance, climate policy has, in later years, become a central policy area. Our research pertains both to greenhouse gas (GHG) cuts and to climate change adaptation. In both cases, effective planning and strengthened institutional capacity are perceived as key factors in the effort to achieve policy objectives. In later years, our research has shifted towards the concept of societal transformation, based on a perception that solving the climate problem will require large-scale societal change rather than mere adjustments of the way society works.

Key partners in this field of research include Nord University Nord University’s research group for environment, resource management and climate change, Cicero Center for International Climate Research, and the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo.

 

Publications

Articles

  • Foto

    A new study will examine how the cruise tourism in Western Norway has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. This autumn, Western Norway Research Institute is starting up three new research projects pertaining to the future of tourism in light of not only the coronavirus, but also the climate crisis.

  • Foto

    The world was at a tipping point in several ways even before coronavirus – so where do we go from here? Author and professor Dag O. Hessen will be one of the main speakers at this year's #Klimaomstilling, co-organised by Western Norway Research Institute, which will take place online on 23 September 2020.

  • Skisse av "Framtidas hyttegrend"

    Adhering to the principles of sustainability means that new mountain cabins should be energy and area efficient. How this may be solved has been addressed by architects, cabin developers, construction experts, and researchers in a research and development project seeking to plan mountain cabins for the future.

  • Foto av prosjektdeltakarar

    The international research project Unchain seeks to develop a novel approach to the prevention of climate-related disasters and gradual change afflicting society in various ways. Researchers from seven countries were represented at the kick-off meeting in Vienna this week.