Climate
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. Although a global problem, the causes and solutions of climate change are often local. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) explores the impacts on society and ecosystems, and develop evidence-based, integrated solutions and technology: the Wageningen Climate Solutions.
Working on climate solutions: the Wageningen Approach
Citizens, governments, companies and other stakeholders want to find solutions for the consequences of climate change. Either by coming up with ways to ‘deal with’ climate change (adaptation), or by developing innovative technologies to stop or reverse climate change (mitigation). Often it is a combination of both mitigation and adaptation which create the most durable climate solutions. A ‘one size fits all-solution’ is not our goal. We want to add our research power to already available knowledge. With Wageningen Climate Solutions WUR aims to co-create opportunities to improve the local quality of life. WUR is a world leading research organisation, which stems from our ability to successfully integrate both fundamental and applied research from different perspectives. This interdisciplinary way of tackling challenges is known as the ‘Wageningen Approach’.
Nature-Based Solutions
Nature-Based Solutions are the third way WUR differentiates itself from other parties which offer climate solutions. By making use of and working with – rather than against – long-term natural processes, we can devise sustainable and resilient solutions to climate change.
Climate and soils
Soils play an important role in the carbon cycle. The total carbon content in the soil (1500 Gton) is twice as large as the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Much of this carbon is stored in peat soils. Small changes in this stock can therefore have a big influence on the emissions of CO2.
Climate and forests
There are more than 3 trillion trees on earth, that means there are about 422 trees per person. However, the total number of trees has almost been halved since the start of human civilization. Ecosystems with a long lifespan, like forests, are more vulnerable to the relatively quick changes of climate change.
Climate and water management
Climate change may have profound effects and predicting them is far from easy. More extreme weather conditions are expected in the future, while more than half of the world’s population lives in areas susceptible to the effects of climate change.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Agriculture emits greenhouse gasses and therefore contributes to climate change, but agriculture and food security are also threatened by climate change. The growth of the world population and increase of income levels has resulted in a increased demand for food. Yet, this demand is increasing faster than ever before because the number of middle and high income people in the world is growing rapidly. Climate-Smart Agriculture addresses on the one hand the reduction of the environmental and climate impact of agricultural activity and on the other hand the development of food production methods and crops that are well adapted to changing weather conditions.
Urban climate
A green environment is essential for a resilient climate and a sustainable environment in the city. It reduces air pollution, provides water storage, dampens noise and cools in warm periods. For example, the cooling of hot air in the city can be done by the strategic construction of open areas. In this dossier you can find news, background and results of research on urban climate.
Climate and energy
In 2020, the Netherlands must generate 14% of its energy sustainably, as agreed in the Energy Agreement. That is why we invest heavily in wind and solar energy both on land and at sea. Wageningen University & Research investigates the opportunities for a nature-inclusive embedding of wind turbines and solar panels in the landscape. In addition, we look at the impact of (the extraction of) renewable and non-renewable energy on the ecosystem and how to deal with ecological effects.
Causes of climate change
Climate change is caused by an increase of greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses do not only consist of CO2, but also of methane (CH4), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (03), and water vapour. These gasses originate from different processes: CO2 is created during combustion (for example in a combustion engine) and methane is for example created during digestion (for example by livestock).
Consequences of climate change
The most well-known effects of climate change is global warming. However, there are also other effects: animals in nature change their rhythm which could cause mismatches. Countries will have to deal with new diseases, for example vector borne diseases which are spread through insects which spread further north. New diseases could not only affect humans, but also food security as farmers will have to deal with new exotic diseases due to climate change.