Norway’s carbon uptake under climate change

There are several factors at play, such as aging forests and increased harvest, but there is growing evidence that climate change is starting to impact forests. Many countries are losing forests from severe drought and bark beetle attacks. Norway is one of them.

Most of the carbon stock sits in soils, and it is uncertain if that will be released in a warmer climate or if it will be lost to rivers and lakes as land cover changes. Norway has a long coast and is responsible for large areas of oceans. The coastal and ocean zone is currently not considerd in Norway’s carbon accounting. 

How is carbon uptake changing in Norway and how may it be effected by climate change? 

NorSink, a new CICERO led project, will in the coming years provide the most comprehensive assessment of Norway's carbon budget to date, both to understand drivers of recent change and to model the potential future impact of climate change.

At this event, leading scientists will provide insights on the challenges and how the project will aim to fill the knowledge gaps.

The event will be held in English.

Programme:

• Welcome by Kårstein Måseide, CICERO
   
• From global to regional to national carbon budgets (Glen Peters, CICERO) 

• Carbon uptake in Norway, current trends and future prognoses (Christian Mohr, NIBIO)
   
• Are drought and bark beetles an increasing threat to carbon uptake in Norwegian forests? (Ryan Bright, NIBIO) 

• How can we better monitor carbon fluxes in real time (Norbert Pirk, UiO) 
   
• Questions and discussion

• How can we model soil carbon in a warmer climate? (Terje Berntsen, UiO) 
   
• Will more carbon be lost from rivers and lakes? (Heleen de Wit, NIVA) 

• Can carbon uptake in the ocean play a role? (Helene Muri, NILU) 

• The use of models to better understand the future (Rosie Fisher, CICERO) 

• Questions and discussion

 The event will be moderated by Kjetil S. Aas, CICERO