Norwegian universities tackle their carbon footprints from travel You would think that universities would be leading the charge to cut back on carbon-intensive air travel. But some members of the Norwegian business community are far ahead of academics in dropping flights.
A climate policy that oil companies can support Instead of companies and consumers paying climate taxes, oil companies could cut production, according to Norwegian economists. In return, they would be paid more.
Clean water eliminated effects of discharged drugs in fish The discharge of pharmaceutical drugs is a major problem around the world, but a new study of the freshwater fish burbot shows that there is hope.
How to make shipping environmentally friendly We need to cut both global and local emissions from shipping. The picture is complex, but research is showing that there are many ways to meet this goal.
Half of Norwegian red foxes eat rat poison Many people still put out poison baits, even though this form of rodent control is prohibited.
Gas instead of coal is 50% better for the climate We can do a lot to save the climate by switching from coal to natural gas. And we can shelve concerns about the negative climate impact of methane emissions from gas production, say researchers.
Sea urchin grazing of kelp may worsen negative effects of oil spill in the Arctic Heavy sea urchin grazing of kelp forests along the coast of Northern Norway has worried fishermen, researchers and others for decades. Together with the increased oil activity in Arctic waters, sea urchin grazing poses an additional hazard: will an oil spill in an area already overgrazed by sea urchins mean the end of the intertidal communities as we know them?
How studies of Norwegian fjord ice can help create a safer future for the arctic During winter, a thick layer of ice can form on the surface of the northern Norwegian fjords. The knowledge of the varying conditions of this ice can be applied to understand to protect and aid the Arctic in the future.
Smokeless «fire» under water We say that there is no smoke without fire, but there can be fire without smoke. At the bottom of the streams, under water, bacteria are burning organic matter, making a considerable contribution to carbon emissions to the atmosphere. A recent study shows how heavy rainfall stimulate to increased burning and CO2 emissions.
How you can help the insect world Many insect species are struggling. But all of us can help them, whether we live in an apartment or in a house with a garden.
Check your baggage for alien species before visiting the Arctic Are you travelling to the Arctic? Seeds, insects and parasites can travel with you as stowaways without your knowledge. This bear explains how you can avoid bringing unwanted species that can threaten the vulnerable Arctic environment.
Exhaust gas is to blame: Ground-level ozone is damaging crops Exhaust gas emissions have doubled the amount of ground-level ozone. Vegetation is being destroyed. Food production is decreasing. Researchers now fear that the damage is greatest in the Arctic regions.
How music listening effects the climate CD listening has been replaced by music streaming. Has the change in music consumption been good for the climate? The answer might surprise you.
Researcher believes in kelp farming By 2050, kelp farming along the Norwegian coast is estimated to cover an area corresponding to half the size of all farmed land in the country. The management agencies need to prepare.
Climate change in the subarctic: warmer lakes pose a danger to cold-water fish populations Climate change is often presented primarily as a problem for future generations. However, it is already affecting our lakes in the Nordic countries in a disturbing way.
Fighting the insect apocalypse with hotels, flowers and dead trees The news is full of stories about how the world’s insects are disappearing, whether from pollution, climate change, habitat losses or a combination of all three. But there are simple measures that people can use to fight back.
When the extreme becomes the norm: Svalbard reindeer cope with dramatic climate change Climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme winter rain events in the Arctic. These kinds of winter storms on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago can cause a thick cap of ice to cover the forage that reindeer eat. You’d think that more frequent rain-on-snow events would spell the end for these arctic animals — but you’d be wrong.
The Helgeland coast in Norway: pristine and well-preserved Nordic coastal ecosystems recently got a scientific health check. The Helgeland coast in Norway did well, according to Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA).
Here’s what a warmer world will look like in Norway The UN's new special report on the 1.5 degree C target describes dramatic consequences for ecosystems if global temperatures rise an average of 2 degrees. How vulnerable are Norwegian ecosystems under these conditions?
Humans have always caused plant and animal extinctions Our warming planet is pushing some plant and animals species towards extinction. But there’s actually no such thing as untouched nature — humans have always altered their environment. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our best to protect what’s here now.
Why is so little plastic actually recycled? A group of Danish and Swedish researchers have now tackled this exact question. Their answer? Money.
Norwegians won’t stop flying, even though they know it’s bad for the planet Flying is one of the last things that Norwegians want to give up. Should we require people to cut their air travel by one flight a year? One researcher says that won’t work, and that the only solution is electric airplanes.
Sewage detectives scour wastewater for drugs Every year in a coordinated, European-wide effort, scientists hunt for traces of drugs in wastewater from nearly 60 cities, including Oslo. But what can they learn from their findings?
Statistics yield better results from climate models Nordic researchers are creating more realistic forecasts of Earth’s future climate by collaborating with statisticians. Now they’re encouraging other climate researchers to do the same.
Cheaper, more efficient biofuel production from trees Filling your gas tank with biofuels made from soybeans or corn is controversial. But researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences have developed an approach that could result in a cheaper, more effective way to fuel your car.
How knowledge can reduce ocean waste OPINION: By analysing heaps of trash found at Svalbard's coasts, we can potentially reduce the amount of plastic polluting the ocean, writes researcher.
Norway's mountain landscape has changed dramatically It’s easy to think that the Norwegian mountains have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. New research reveals that people and animals have affected the landscape far more than you might have guessed.
The Great Barrier Reef is in trouble Nearly half of Australia’s famed coral reef is sending serious distress signals as persistent high ocean temperatures cause corals to bleach.
The valley at the end of the world – and the magical mysteries we found there OPINION: Plant life in parts of the high Arctic are changing fast, possibly due to changing climate and local bird populations, but scientists are still putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Speedy production of silicon for solar cells A growing solar cell industry needs cheaper silicon in increasing amounts. A centrifuge developed in Norway could supply it.
Tundra shrubs can speed warming A rapidly warming climate is boosting the growth of shrubs on the tundra. These absorb more solar heat and intensify global warming.
Here comes the electric fishing boat The world’s first electrically powered fishing boat will be presented this August in Trondheim, Norway. But more time and development is needed before it can run completely without diesel.
What’s a moose to eat? Moose like to browse on young saplings. Forest owners count on their trees for timber. Researchers are looking for better ways to meet both needs.
Spring is arriving earlier Around the globe, leaves are popping and fruit trees are blooming earlier than before. Norwegian records show that the temperature in mid-May is about one degree higher today than it was 40 years ago.
Fjords catch loads of carbon Organic material is quickly buried at the bottom of fjords round the world.
Scientists spread dubious number on debris in seas Researchers have often said that ten percent of all the plastic manufactured ends up in the oceans. Where did they get that number?
Arctic fox feed at night to avoid snowmobile traffic The Arctic fox is at the top of the food chain in Svalbard, but humans on snowmobiles are disturbing its mealtimes.
Can Oslo grow both fast and green? Oslo’s metropolitan area is the fastest growing region in Europe. Can urban planning keep up – and create livable, nearly car-free communities?
Twelve things that can protect you from polluted urban air Ten times as many people die of urban air pollution as in traffic accidents in Norway. Here are some effective tips for protecting yourself from bad city air.
Four-day forecasts of air pollution People with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders often need to stay indoors when air pollution levels get too severe. Meteorologists are working on providing four-day forecasts for air pollutants.
OPINION: The Christmas tree's carbon footprint Trees store carbon dioxide. How bad is it really to chop down a spruce tree and put it in the living room for Christmas?
Exotic travellers are planet warmers Nature and experienced-based tours to distant countries take us happily out of our daily routines, but they are also far from good for the environment. The tourist industry should really care about how people reach their destinations – not just how many bath towels they are using.
Detailed wave warnings on Norwegian coast The dramatic wreck of the high-speed catamaran ferry “Sleipner” in 1999 prompted allocations of funds for research on ocean waves along the Norwegian coast. Better wave warnings are available as of this summer.
Geoengineers can only give us a breather Cloud brightening and other mega-scale projects to reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching our planet are risky, scientists say.
Complicated climate communication Impact scenarios of climate change on Norwegian ecosystems are indefinite and convoluted, making dissemination to the general public difficult. How can scientists express themselves clearly and precisely?
EU cites Norway for air poor quality Emissions of harmful atmospheric particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide in Norway exceed limits stipulated by the EU Air Quality Directive.
Aerosols are wild cards in climate models Tiny airborne particles in the Earth’s atmosphere affect its climate. But uncertainties regarding their impact can be greater than reckoned in climate models, according to new Norwegian research.
Measuring snowfall in windy mountain areas A new statistical model may finally give meteorologists a better handle on snowfall amounts, even when measurements are made where snow is blown wildly into drifts. This information can boost hydropower efficiency as well as help us better understand climate change.
More heavy rains in the future Increasingly powerful cloudbursts can wreak havoc in cities. Better measurements and climate models can help urban planners protect cities from wetter, wilder weather.
Changing climate can change building standards Roofs in Norway have to be built to hold up under heavy loads of snow. But a warmer climate and less snow might mean a change in building standards for roofs that have to be built to last a century.
Unstable Atlantic can accelerate climate change A warmer planet can destabilise an important oceanographic process in the North Atlantic called deep water formation. If deep water formation is affected, it will have a profound impact on global climate and precipitation.
How archaeology helps wild reindeer Archaeological finds left by prehistoric hunters offer today's biologists invaluable tools for understanding how reindeer once roamed Norway's landscape - unimpeded by roads, power lines or other infrastructure.
OPINION: Should India invest in Arctic oil? In an unusual twist of events, the second most populous country in the world has become an unlikely player in the far flung Arctic high north.
Wood fuels far less climate friendly than assumed Burning wood or biofuels taken from slow-growing forests may actually be worse in terms of CO2 emissions than burning fossil fuels, new research suggests.
Warmer in Southern Europe, wetter in the North European scientists have joined forces in a report to politicians. This is what we can expect of extreme weather in times ahead.
Ocean acidification puts Norway in a pickle Research since the last IPPC climate change report has provided further proof of mounting acidification of the oceans. Norwegian experts think the fifth IPPC assessment report, to be released in Stockholm this week, should be an eye-opener.
Norway funds four green longshots Giant batteries for storing renewable energy and solar cells that can use more of the light spectrum are among the winning projects that have been awarded additional funding from the Research Council of Norway.
Enduring climate crisis by gene doubling Ancient grains of pollen show how conifers survived one of the Earth’s greatest mass extinctions.
The well-heeled leave biggest carbon footprint A new study shows that more affluent households have a greenhouse gas effect from travel and transport that is 250 times greater than individuals in the lowest economic classes of society.
Wet tundra can also capture carbon Do permafrost thaws and bacteria comprise a climate bomb in the Arctic?
Dream houses without emissions Can buildings that emit no carbon dioxide over the course of their lifespan make up more than a just handful of projects and icons in Norway’s housing future?
Greenland meltdown could slow down The dramatic rate of melting and ice discharge from Greenland's glaciers could decelerate, but researchers aren’t calling it good news.
Arctic waters growing alarmingly acidic In the past 200 years the average acidity of surface waters in the world’s oceans has risen by 30 percent. This is prime evidence of humans really changing the entire planet.
Living the green dream -- a zero emissions city district The researchers behind a climate neutral housing district in Trondheim often hear their plan blasted as utopian. And it is. But that doesn’t make it impossible or unrealistic.
Motivating those who are almost cyclists A sociologist thinks health and climate arguments aren’t what is needed to get people on bikes.
Norwegian invention can decrease CO2 emissions A new Norwegian technology can remove nearly 90 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted by coal-fired power plants.
Ivory gulls threatened by eggshell thinning High levels of environmental contaminants are linked with thinner eggshells in the ivory gull, a red-listed high Arctic seabird. Scientists are concerned that pollutants and the stress from global warming could cause populations to plummet.
Bright future for solar energy in the north Many Nordic regions have potentials for exploiting solar energy matching that of the solar giant Germany.
Winter rains threaten reindeer and voles A small rodent, the vole, shares an icy issue with reindeer in Svalbard. A warmer Arctic climate could bring more winter rains and tougher conditions for the two species.
Adapting rice cultivation to climate changes India’s millions of peasant farmers need to make their rice crops more robust in the face of the climate changes. A Norwegian-Indian project aims to increase crops also when little water is available.
Harvesting energy from all forms of sunlight By simply cutting UV photons in two, we could get twice the amount of energy from sunlight.
Use nature while protecting it Local businesses would like to make the wilderness more accessible to tourists, whereas conservationists are focused on protecting it pristinely. Norwegian researchers think you can have both.
The passive housing revolution Seventy percent cuts in carbon emissions and 75 percent cuts in energy consumption by 2050? Passive house technology could make it happen.
Trapping carbon with iron Iron fertilising of the oceans can make plankton draw more carbon dioxide down to the seabed for long-term storage.
Troubled waters text for help Fish and other freshwater organisms can be devastated by runoffs from construction work. Such environmental threats can be curbed by probes that notify mobile phones when something has gone wrong.
Forests get only minor boost from climate change Why are we getting more forest and higher timberlines? The main explanation is a decline in animal browsing and small-time forestry. A warmer climate has had little impact on forests over the last 50 years, say Norwegian forestry experts.
Back to the unnatural Idyllic Norwegian nature isn’t completely natural. Much of it has been formed through centuries of forestry, farming and animal husbandry. Do we want to return to our scenic but impacted landscapes, or should we let the woods return?
