Center for ClimateResilient Development – CRED

The Center for Climate-Resilient Developemnt (CRED) is a collaboration between NMBU, the Follo region, politicians, businesses, and civil society in the Oslofjord area, with the goal of creating local solutions to climate challenges.

Climate change today poses significant risks to natural environments, people, and infrastructure on a global scale, and even small increases in temperature amplify these risks. Efforts to mitigate these dangers are further complicated by other global trends such as biodiversity loss, overconsumption, rapid urbanization, land degradation, poverty, and inequality.

Climate-resilient development is a holistic approach to transforming and adapting while simultaneously limiting the extent of climate change. This involves initiating climate action, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing risk reduction and adaptation measures, to promote sustainable development for all.

CRED is an initiative developed under NMBU's sustainability arena TOWARDS.

News

CRED was awarded funding from the SKAPE Program

Read the article here (Norwegian)

Are area neutrality and ecological compensation the path toward sustainable land management?

Read the article here (Norwegian)

• What is CRED

  The Center for Climate-Resilient Develompent provides expertise on anticipated climate changes and how these can be managed holistically, in accordance with government regulations. It serves as a platform for collaboration between universities, public administration, and local communities to develop solutions for future challenges.

  The center aims to make expert knowledge more accessible to local communities, ensuring a faster, more cost-effective, and better transition. By supporting the implementation of strategies that strengthen social, economic, and ecological resilience, the center can help address climate challenges. This requires the integration of sustainability goals, policies, and practices, facilitating community decisions that enhance these strategies.

  CRED works in alignment with the UN's recommendations for achieving climate-resilient development:

  • All relevant parties, including governments, the public sector, businesses, and civil society, must be involved to ensure that solutions are well-grounded and robust.
  • Climate actions are scientifically based and should be combined with nature-based solutions and circular economy practices, such as waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.

  

• Activities in CRED

  1. Policy labs: Creating dialogue platforms where politicians, officials, businesses, and civil society can meet for expert lectures and develop solutions through workshops across municipal borders and sectors.
  2. Climate sparring: Expert dialogue or professional presentations at conferences, public meetings, seminars, or during the preparation of municipal zoning plans.
  3. Development of tailored continuing and further education programs (with credits) for municipal politicians, employees, businesses, and civil society.
  4. Student research: Connecting master's and doctoral students to local challenges they can address in their theses.
  5. Internships: For students (10-30 ECTS) at NMBU's sustainability hub, gaining practical experience with community actors to support relevant cases and initiatives.
  6. Studies: NMBU conducts studies on relevant issues defined by the needs of collaboration partners.

• Events in CRED 2024

  • February 14 - Climate-Resilient Plans - Collaboration between NMBU and the Follo Region
  • About 30 case officers from Follo participated, where four experts shared insights on climate adaptation locally in Norway, the USA, developing countries, and internationally, followed by a workshop where the case officers shared and discussed specific challenges and solutions from their municipalities.
  • April 18 - Meeting at the Sustainability Hub: Harnessing Science to Achieve SDG2 Zero Hunger
  • A meeting between Caren Smaller from the Shamba Center and five experts from TOWARDS/Sustainability Hub for knowledge exchange on the use of big data to, among other things, counteract climate change locally.
  • May 23 - Coordinated Effort for the Oslofjord
  • TOWARDS gathered 30 experts at NMBU for presentations on each other's fields and activities related to the Oslofjord, followed by a discussion to improve collaboration across disciplines and with other community actors in the region.
  • May 27 - Dialogue Meeting of the Sustainability Arenas with Prorectors and Municipal Politicians
  • Follo's municipal politicians were invited by NMBU to a dialogue meeting to present the breadth of NMBU's expertise relevant to municipal policy. Approximately 30 politicians participated.
  • September 6 - Preparation for Fall Student Projects under TOWARDS/Sustainability Arena
  • September 13 - Policy Lab
  • October 10 - Field Visit in Follo

CRED - Contact

Jan Thomas Odegard

Project leader

Tel. 41494044

Send e-mail

Simon Oxholm Roy

External advisor

Send e-mail