BYFORSKnett - Urban Eco Labs

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Fast urbanization is only one of the features of contemporary times, along with population growth, elimination of resources, environmental degradation, societal and economical instabilities, as well as demographic changes and climate change. Population growth and urbanisation in large municipalities in the Nordic region has brought up the need to address arising problems. As densification of the urban centres increases the proportion of impervious surfaces, a key focus has been to create more green spaces in the city. Green spaces promote ecosystem services and adapt faster to flooding occurrences, while supplementing to the city?s green infrastructure and recreational spaces. The proposed consortium takes off from a multidisciplinary approach of enhancing urban resilience in the Nordic context. It gathers people that are working in fields that all have their place in the urban environment, and brings together practitioners, researchers and public actors to exchange ideas and join forces to create cities that are sustainable and resilient. It aims at finding dynamic and adaptable solutions in the urban development process that promote ecosystem services in the city, foster alternative ways of transportation and mitigate climatic impacts. In the Norwegian paradigm, social sustainability is another important aspect of urban redevelopment and a focal point to national, regional and local authorities in Norway. This places high demands on the authorities to come up with sustainable solutions that accommodate the many different needs, and also contribute to more liveable cities and urban spaces. One critical issue in employing innovative solutions is that often municipalities and stakeholders lack knowledge and incentives to invest in sustainable and innovative solutions.