Nature-based future solutions
Biodiversity loss and the climate crisis are closely linked. A warmer climate impacts wildlife, entire ecosystems and people, while biodiversity loss exacerbates the effects of climate change. Innovative research can limit the negative effects of these intertwined crises.
Researchers at Lund University are investigating the complex links between biodiversity loss and climate change. They are also studying how these crises impact society and human health and well-being.
Sustainable solutions for tomorrow's society
This knowledge is being used to develop nature-based solutions that focus on nature's ability to solve challenges through ecosystem services. Well-designed solutions can benefit biodiversity, mitigate climate change and promote human well-being.
Researchers in this profile area:
- develop new knowledge at different levels - from the interactions of individual species and human experience of nature and climate change, to global climate processes and society's management of these issues
- identify solutions based on synergies and avoidance of conflicts between biodiversity, climate and human well-being
- analyse equity issues from a perspective that considers historical and contemporary conflicts between climate and biodiversity policies at global, national and local levels
- raise awareness of the combined impacts of biodiversity and climate change and how they can be addressed by green industries and the economy
- develop tools to enable better use of big data connected to biodiversity and climate change
- produce innovative, just and sustainable solutions based on ecosystem processes.
The profile area brings together world-leading researchers in ecology, economics and social sciences. Some researchers are experts in, for example, ecological, physical or chemical processes. Others research climate policy, epidemiology, environmental psychology, artificial intelligence, climate-related risks or climate modelling.
Collaboration areas
Researchers produce innovation and knowledge in close collaboration with national and international experts, industry, the public sector and the broader society. Research results are used to drive innovation in the following areas:
Research shows how people are affected by biodiversity loss and climate change. Nature-based solutions, such as improving urban air quality, can have many positive effects that both contribute to better public health and benefit wildlife.
Decision-makers in the public sector and industry will gain access to a more robust knowledge base on biodiversity issues. This also applies to the resilience of ecosystems and societies to climate change.
Researchers are investigating how biodiversity can contribute to more diverse land use. The aim is to develop models for multifunctional landscapes. Multifunctional landscapes can, for example, provide food and energy security, while strengthening climate adaptation and conditions for biodiversity and a range of valuable ecosystem services.
By incorporating biodiversity into climate models, researchers are improving their ability to predict how land-use and ecosystem change will affect our future climate and the production in the green sector. The research is being used, for example, to inform reports for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Research environments
Profile area at LU
Nature-based future solutions is one of five profile areas at Lund University. The area's unique research aims to improve people's lives and solve global problems.
Coordinator
Henrik Smith
Professor
Phone: +46 46 222 93 79
henrik [dot] smith [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (henrik[dot]smith[at]biol[dot]lu[dot]se)
Research Coordinator
Cerina Wittbom
Phone: +46 46 222 75 19
Mobile: +46 722 16 86 26
cerina [dot] wittbom [at] cec [dot] lu [dot] se (cerina[dot]wittbom[at]cec[dot]lu[dot]se)
Research database
Related researchers, projects and publications.
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