The Ever Moving Sea Ice

Improved method to regulate how much your shampoo contaminates the environment

Abrupt warming caused ice collapse and sea level rise

Climate change impacts Nordic literature

When the ice shrinks closer to shore, seals follow – into the jaws of polar bears

A shift from cropland to forests made Western Europe cooler

Polar cod in climate crisis

Data ownership is a recipe for better living in the city

Doing time for the climate

Gaming their way to sustainable development

The Arctic at risk from plastic

A new research report shows that the Arctic is under threat and may suffer negative impact if plastic enters the food chain.

Climate change threatens coffee production: This is how farmers can adapt

Norwegians love coffee, and we are no strangers to a little bit of chocolate either. But a warmer climate now threatens our preferences – and even worse – the livelihood of thousands of farmers in Central America.

A producer treaty should complement the Paris Agreement

In their article "The case for a supply-side climate treaty", recently published in the prestigious journal Science, nine Norwegian economists argue that a new climate treaty between producers of oil, coal and gas can help curb global warming. According to the researchers, such a supply-side treaty, supplementing the Paris Agreement, would increase the chances of reaching the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming well below two degrees.

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.

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?

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.Click to add subtitle

How music listening affects 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.

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).

Development may reduce heatwave impact

Global warming of 1.5 or 2°C will lead to more intense and frequent extreme heatwave events, a new study suggests. Better socio-economic development can help reduce their impact on society in low development countries.

Warmer winters in Svalbard are not good for plants

The far north is becoming greener. Yet, in part of the Arctic, on Svalbard, we are uncertain about what is happening. Climate change has led to warmer summers, but the winters are also having a negative influence on vegetation.

Trans-Arctic shipping and the tragedy of the polar ice cap

The Arctic sea ice is melting. Areas that previously have been covered with ice are opening up, facilitating increased access for ship traffic in the Arctic Ocean. How can the need for preservation of the vulnerable Arctic environment meet the world's need for trade and transport?

Declining sea ice is making the Arctic ocean warmer

Changes in the marine environment are causing shifts in ecosystems north of Svalbard.

New study estimates the carbon footprints of 13,000 cities

Many see cities as the new front lines of the climate change fight. Identifying the mayors and city councils in cities with the biggest carbon footprints, and the most power to make big changes, could mobilize a wave of reinforcements.

The future North Atlantic takes up more carbon than previously expected

Efficient carbon pathway to the deep ocean allows for a strong future uptake, new study shows.

Thousands of plastic pieces are floating towards the Arctic

Ocean currents carry plastic debris from all over the world towards the Arctic, but we cannot blame it all on others.

Caged blue mussels can be used to monitor the environment

Wild blue mussels can reveal the amounts of pollutants in the water. But can farmed mussels do the same job?

Wildlife in highway ditches needs detoxing

When rain pours down on roads, slops of dust and contaminants drain into the road trenches. How does this affect wildlife living by the road?

Hope is green and Chinese

Heavy air pollution has led to increased environmental consciousness in China. A growing number of apps now allow people to check local air quality. Apps also serve as tools for political activism.

Plant-based packaging could reduce food waste

Bioplastic packaging that extends the shelf life of food and tells us when it is no longer fit to eat will result in less waste.

Forests play important part in cooling down local climate

A new study shows how important forests are in keeping much of the planet’s surface cool.

Wood burning pollutes the urban air in Norway

Around 45 per cent of the wood consumed in Oslo is burned in apartments. Thus, wood burning for residential heating, and the resulted particle emission, may have a much larger impact on air quality in Norwegian urban areas than previously thought.

"Climate change needs to be adressed locally, not globally"

The historic UN climate agreement has entered into force. But a Norwegian Professor has little confidence in the agreement.

Getting the full picture on greenhouse gases

A new project aims to understand greenhouse gas emissions - literally from the ground up.

Evolution in real time on Bear Island

Researchers tracked the northern-most freshwater fish over an entire year with surprising results.

Scientists grow bacteria that breathe greenhouse gases

Increasing amonts of the lesser known greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in the atmosphere, could become a problem. But researchers are developing new ways of dealing with the emissions.

Are efforts against lead contamination working?

Efforts to reduce industrial emissions of lead have been ongoing for several decades. However, some of the lead comes from natural sources, so how can scientists tell if the efforts are worth while?

Keeping an eye on tropical forests

Countries can receive funding for monitoring and protecting their tropical forests. But some countries don't have the proper tools to qualify. A Norwegian project aims to change this.

Methane from the Arctic ocean stays put

Methane gas released from the seabed during the summer months leads to an increased methane concentration in the ocean. Surprisingly, very little of the methane gas rising up through the sea appears to reach the atmosphere in the summer.

Project aims to help Indian farmers cope with extreme weather

It's crucial that the information is correct and up to date. By using information technology, the farmers know how to handle the constantly changing climate.

Less waste with food wrapped in plants

Bioplastic packaging that extends the shelf life of food and tells us when it is no longer fit to eat will result in less waste.

The survival of species suddenly looks better

Findings on the Norway spruce show how plants and animals can adapt better to climate change than previously envisaged.

Early Earth may have been freezing cold

Contrary to popular belief: When Earth’s first organisms were formed, it may have been in an ice cold ocean.

Keeping Arctic villages and infrastructure from falling into the sea

The Arctic is set to be a 21st century boomtown, as summer sea ice melts away, opening the area to increased trans-Arctic shipping and oil and gas development. A new understanding of Arctic coastal erosion offers clues to how to best protect the docks and other infrastructure this development will bring.

Skaters – mind the ice!

Recent winters almost free of snow have encouraged Norwegians to get their skates on and venture out onto the frozen lakes. But what happens to your body if you fall through the ice, and what should you do if an accident occurs?

This is how your personal consumption affects the climate

You won’t make big cuts in your environmental impact by taking shorter showers or turning out the lights. The real environmental problem, a new analysis has shown, is embodied in the things you buy.

Mapping the world for climate sensitivity

By using information gathered by satellites, a group of biologists have developed a new method for measuring ecosystem sensitivity to climate variability.