Gave Input on Two important Reports to the Parliament
On November 27, UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management and CeSAM researcher Inger M氓ren represented the University of Bergen at the government's hearing for two upcoming reports to the Norwegian parliament; one on biodiversity and one on climate.

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Next year the Norwegian government is bringing out a biodiversity report to the Norwegian parliament as a response to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and a climate report听 for the years leading up to 2035, towards a low-emissions society in 2050. As preparation for these reports, the Ministry of Climate and Environment are arranging several hearings to receive input from relevant companies and organisations. For the Vestland region, a hearing was held in Bergen on November 27, and Inger M氓ren from the Department of Biological Sciences were there representing the Centre of Sustainable Area Management (CeSAM) and the University of Bergen on this matter.
The hearing was led by the newly appointed Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, and the University of Bergen was one of many research institutes represented. There were also many other companies and NGOs present; the energy sector was well represented, but there were also several nature protection organisations, political parties, and fishery and agricultural organisations. As Western Norway is the country鈥檚 biggest exporting region, it is also the region with the biggest emissions. This is why it is very positive that so many people came to give their opinions and suggestions to how our region can improve and continue working with these issues.
After listening to all of the representatives attending the hearing, the Minister summarized the meeting by stating that it was nice to hear that it is not a question of if we are going to transition, but how. Further, he stated that the important work to preserve biodiversity and prevent further climate changes needs to be integrated in all policies. What is especially demanding when it comes to nature and climate challenges is that this must be kept on the agenda and worked with every single year for many years to come.
The oral input given by Inger M氓ren at the hearing can be read below. This will also be followed up by a written statement from the central administration at the University of Bergen on December 4, where several faculties have contributed with their input.
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UiB's oral input to the government (English translation)
The message from the global scientific community is crystal clear: humanity stands with both feet firmly planted in a nature and climate crisis. These crises threaten our welfare and wealth, and the development is moving quick and dramatically in a negative direction. Although the countries of the world have tasked themselves with ambitious goals to meet and pay for these crises, we are not doing nearly enough. Simultaneously we know that the solutions exist, and that it will pay off to implement these measures, both economically, humanly, and for nature. Not acting or continuing with today鈥檚 policies is not a rational choice and will ensure that today鈥檚 development continues in a negative direction.
We know this because international panels of scientists with great credibility and rock-solid political foundation 鈥 the IPCC and IPBES 鈥 have summarized all accessible knowledge on nature and climate changes, on causes, and on solutions. These panels work are engaged by the UN and the countries of the world, and the process is open, involving, credible and representative. Most people probably understand that climate science it is important to understand the climate crises, and that biology is necessary to understand the nature crisis. However, the whole picture 鈥 causes, consequences, and solutions 鈥 is not complete without the involvement of other disciplines, such as law, economy, political science, the humanities, and technology, as well as local and indigenous knowledge. The result is scientifically solid reports with all accessible and relevant knowledge. We know this because the process is open, but also because UiB鈥檚 scientists largely contribute to these reports. These reports are fundamentally interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary and are the foundation of the Paris agreement and the Kunming-Montral agreement. They should also be the foundation of the solutions Norway and the world chooses.
We look forward to the reports to the parliament on biodiversity and climate, and we trust that the government鈥檚 reports will match the global seriousness of the climate and nature crises. We wish to emphasize the following elements before answering the nine questions posed in the invitation to this hearing:
- Science is clear 鈥 the climate crisis and the nature crisis are connected. They have the same underlying causes, and they must be solved together. Discover the win-win scenarios between the crises, and not the competition. The huge reports are full of possibilities! The IPCC identify preservation and restauration of intact nature as the second most important measure for the climate (after increasing the use of solar power).
- Land use changes are the main reason for the nature crisis, and a very important cause of the climate crisis, and of loss of ecosystem services. Most ecosystem services are provided by the 鈥渆very-day-nature鈥, or our 鈥渘eighbourhood nature鈥. Thus, a more nature friendly area policy in areas outside of protected areas is the goal #1 of the Kunming-Montreal agreement, in addition to goal #2 of 30% restoration, and the most known goal #3 of 30% protected nature.
- The underlying causes of land use changes and climate emissions is our runaway resource and energy consumption. Here is Norway, Norwegian businesses, and the Norwegian people in a unique position 鈥 and not in a good way. Klimautvalget 2050 hits the nail on the head when they point out that we, as a society, need to realize the fact that natural resources, including energy, raw materials, and land, are limited goods.
- Managing, prioritizing, and economizing these goods to the best of the society will take a transition of important decision-making processes in society. This is what tone-setting international organizations like the UN and IEA calls 鈥渢ransformative change鈥. This is aligned with the Hurdal platform鈥檚 statement that 鈥渃limate and nature shall be the framework of all politics鈥. The reports to the parliament need to accept that nature and climate are not a special interest to many, but the foundation for good lives and societies. Luckily, both the international panels, Klimautvalget 2050 and many other national stakeholders in science, business, and the civil society point to a strand of knowledge based and efficient solutions. Put them to action! In a Norwegian context, measures related to the Planning and Building Act, the National Transportation Plan, consequence analyses and circular economy are as important as measures directly related to nature.
- The nature goals are global, and everyone must contribute based on their own capability and the ecosystem services they manage. Scientific research shows that Norway has a unique and valuable nature, and we have the resources to lead by example, and make a difference. Norway, as a serious and rational global actor will influence greatly, both through preserving our own nature, through reducing our huge national and global climate and nature footprint, and also through affecting others. But there is also a risk: if Norway cannot pull its weight, who can?
- Society must be included. Business, the different sectors, and the civil society are willing to contribute, but that requires more predictability. We need to eliminate competition between different management levels鈥 influence on nature and climate politics, and rather have a transdisciplinary collaboration to achieve global and national goals. We often talk about 鈥渢he yellow vests鈥, but maybe a disillusioned and pessimistic generation of youths should be more concerning?
Academics are already contributing to climate and nature transitions through interdisciplinary scientific research and education, through the international synthesis and science in support of Norwegian sectors and business. We are more than happy to contribute to this transitioning process 鈥 use us!
UiB's oral input to the government (original)
Beskjeden fra de globale forskersamfunnet er krystallklar 鈥 menneskeheten st氓r med begge bena plantet midt i en natur- og klimakrise. Disse krisene truer v氓r velferd og velstand, og utviklingen g氓r raskt og dramatisk i negativ retning. Selv om verdens land har satt seg ambisi酶se m氓l for 氓 m酶te og b酶te p氓 disse krisene gj酶r vi p氓 langt n忙r nok. Samtidig vet vi at l酶sningene finnes, og at det vil l酶nne seg 氓 gjennomf酶re disse tiltakene 鈥 b氓de 酶konomisk, menneskelig, og for naturen. Det 氓 ikke handle eller fortsette med dagens politikk er alts氓 ikke et rasjonelt valg, det vil f酶re til at utviklingen fortsetter i negativ retning.
Vi vet dette fordi internasjonale forskerpaneler med stor troverdighet og bunnsolid politisk forankring 鈥 Klimapanelet og Naturpanelet 鈥 har sammenstilt all tilgjengelig kunnskap om endringer i natur og klima, om 氓rsaker, og om l酶sninger. Disse panelene jobber p氓 oppdrag fra FN og verdens land, og prosessen er 氓pen, involverende, troverdig, og representativ. De fleste skj酶nner sikkert at klimaforskning er n酶dvendig for 氓 forst氓 klimakrisen, og at biologi er n酶dvendig for 氓 forst氓 naturkrisen. Men hele bildet 鈥 氓rsaker, konsekvenser, og l酶sninger 鈥 forst氓r vi f酶rst n氓r andre fag som juss, 酶konomi, statsvitenskap, humaniora og teknologi samt lokalkunnskap og urfolkskunnskap involveres. Resultatet er faglig solide rapporter som sammenstiller all tilgjengelig og relevant kunnskap. Vi vet dette fordi prosessen er 氓pen, men ogs氓 fordi UiBs forskere bidrar i stort monn til disse rapportene. Disse rapportene er grunnleggende tverrfaglige og tverrsektorielle og ligger til grunn for Paris- og Naturavtalen. Og de m氓 ligge til grunn for de l酶sningene Norge og verden velger.
Vi ser frem til stortingsmeldingene om naturmangfold og klima, og vi har tiltro til at regjeringen vil legge frem meldinger som st氓r i stil til det globale alvoret i klima- og naturkrisen. Vi vil l酶fte frem f酶lgene momenter, f酶r vi svarer ut de 9 sp酶rsm氓lene som fulgte invitasjonen til innspillsm酶tet 27.11.23:
- Forskningen er klar 鈥 klimakrise og naturkrise henger sammen, de har de samme underliggende 氓rsakene, og de kan og m氓 l酶ses sammen. Finn vinn-vinn, ikke konkurranse mellom krisene. De store globale rapportene er full av muligheter!!听 Klimapanelet identifiserer for eksempel bevaring og restaurering av intakt natur som det nest viktigste vi kan gj酶re for klimaet (etter installering av mer solenergi).听
- Arealendringer er hoved氓rsak til naturkrisen, og en sv忙rt viktig 氓rsak til klimaendringer, og til tap av mange naturgoder. Og de fleste naturgodene leveres av 鈥榟verdagsnaturen鈥 eller 鈥榥忙rnaturen鈥 v氓r. En mer naturvennlig arealpolitikk i omr氓der *utenfor* verneomr氓der er derfor m氓l 1 i naturavtalen, i tillegg til m氓l 2 om 30% restaurering og det mest kjente m氓l 3 om 30% vern.
- De underliggende 氓rsakene til arealendringene og klimagassutslipp er v氓rt galopperende ressurs- og energiforbruk. Og her st氓r Norge, norske n忙ringer og den norske befolkningen i en s忙rstilling 鈥 og ikke i positiv forstand. Klimautvalget 2050 treffer spikeren p氓 hodet n氓r de p氓peker at vi som samfunn m氓 ta inn over oss at naturressursene, inkludert energi, r氓stoffer, og arealer, er knapphetsgoder.
- 脜 forvalte, prioritere, og 酶konomisere med disse godene til samfunnets beste vil kreve en omlegging av viktige beslutningsprosesser i samfunnet. Det er dette toneangivende internasjonale organisasjoner som FN og IEA omtaler som 芦transformative change禄. Som igjen er helt i tr氓d med Hurdalsplattformens formulering om at 芦klima og natur skal v忙re rammen om all politikk禄. Stortingsmeldingene m氓 ta inn over seg at natur og klima er ikke s忙rinteresser blant mange, men selve grunnlaget for gode liv og samfunn. Heldigvis peker b氓de de internasjonale kunnskapspanelene, klimautvalget 2050, og mange andre nasjonale akt酶rer innen forskning, n忙ringsliv, og sivilsamfunn p氓 en rekke kunnskapsbaserte og effektive l酶sninger. Sett dem i arbeid! I norsk sammenheng vil tiltak inn mot PBL, NTP, KU, og sirkul忙r酶konomi v忙re like viktige som tiltak spesifikt rettet mot naturen.听
- Naturm氓lene er globale, og alle m氓 bidra etter evne og ut fra de naturgodene de forvalter. Forskningen viser at Norge har en unik og verdifull natur. Og vi har ressurser til 氓 g氓 foran, v忙re en rollemodell, gj酶re en forskjell. Norge som en seri酶s og rasjonell global akt酶r vil ha stor innflytelse b氓de gjennom at vi ivaretar v氓r egen verdifulle natur, gjennom at vi reduserer v氓rt store nasjonale og globale klima- og naturavtrykk, og gjennom at vi p氓virker andre. Men her ligger ogs氓 en risiko 鈥 dersom Norge ikke greier 氓 dra v氓r del av lasset for klima og milj酶, hvem skal da gj酶re det?
- Samfunnet m氓 med. N忙ringslivet, sektorene og sivilsamfunnet er villige til 氓 bidra, men trenger st酶rre forutsigbarhet. Vi m氓 bort fra at ulike forvaltningsniv氓er konkurrerer om innflytelse p氓 natur- og klimapolitikken, og over til tverrsektorielt samarbeid for 氓 oppn氓 globale og nasjonale m氓l. Det snakkes ofte om 芦de gule vestene禄 鈥 men en desillusjonert og pessimistisk ungdomsgenerasjon burde kanskje bekymre mer?
Og vi i akademia bidrar allerede til klima og naturomstilling gjennom tverrfaglig forskning og utdanning, gjennom de internasjonale syntesene og forskning til st酶tte for norske sektorer og n忙ringer. Vi bidrar gjerne mer i denne omstillingsprosessen 鈥 bruk oss!