There is a growing need to highlight good examples of local climate-resilient practices that address both climate change and biodiversity loss at the same time. This was the focus of the workshop “Advancing Action at the Climate Change–Biodiversity Interface” hosted by the Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems (LCSES) at the University of Luxembourg, with the Centre for Climate-Resilient Transformation (KRED) as a co-organizer.
The workshop was developed by Debora Ley (Guatemala’s Ministry of Environment and co-convenor of Adaptation Futures 2027), Ralf Seppelt (Director of LCSES), and Siri Eriksen (Leader of KRED) as part of an international effort to follow up on findings from the UN climate and biodiversity panels.
Follo Featured as an International Case
As one of eight international case studies presented during the workshop, Siri Eriksen and Jan Thomas Odegard (both from NMBU) together with Anders Berggren (Nordre Follo Municipality/Follo Climate and Energy Network) showcased how NMBU and the Follo Regional Planning Cooperation (Follo IPR) work together through KRED to develop a more integrated approach to climate, nature, and community development.
The event brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from several countries who are working on challenges related to climate risk, biodiversity loss, and sustainable transformation.
At the university’s new, slightly futuristic campus just south of Luxembourg City, the Follo region was highlighted as an example of how local governments and research institutions can collaborate closely to tackle complex sustainability challenges.
Turning Global Knowledge into Local Action
Through discussions and workshops, participants shared experiences from seven different countries while exploring how global goals and scientific knowledge can be translated into practical action at the local level.
Among the participants were contributors to both the UN climate and biodiversity panels (IPCC and IPBES), alongside national and local government representatives and decision-makers working on climate-resilient development.
During a panel discussion featuring, among others, Luxembourg’s Secretary of State for Climate, Environment and Biodiversity, Thomas Schoos, and Guatemala’s Vice Minister for Climate and Environment, Edwin Castellanos, speakers stressed the urgency of change. The message was clear: the costs of inaction will be enormous in the coming decades if we do not invest now in integrated solutions that address climate and environmental challenges together.
Connecting Climate, Nature, Water, Health, and Food Systems
A key theme throughout the workshop was how the recommendations from the IPBES Nexus Assessment can serve as a foundation for more coordinated action across climate, biodiversity, water, health, and food systems.
The discussions highlighted that many municipalities and regions face similar challenges. Different sectors often work separately, even though the problems they are trying to solve are deeply interconnected. The experience from the Follo region attracted particular interest because it demonstrates how collaboration across disciplines and levels of governance can lead to more holistic solutions.
At the same time, the exchange of experiences provided inspiration for how organizations can overcome the practical challenges of working in new and more interdisciplinary ways.
Building Bridges Between Research and Practice
The workshop emphasized the importance of universities and research institutions investing in the work of building bridges between science, policy, and local practice if society is to succeed in achieving a fair and climate-resilient transition.
The event also sent a strong message that local initiatives can play an important role internationally—not only as recipients of knowledge, but also as sources of innovative solutions and valuable experiences that others can learn from.