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Research on imperative questions of our time

addressing our society´s need for knowledge about the dynamics between biodiversity and ecosystem services in a rapidly changing world

To generate cutting-edge research increasing the ability of societies to reach the UN Sustainability Development Goals, BECC currently focuses on three grand challenges arising from the combined consequences of climate change and land-use on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services.

The world is facing global change that affects societies and ecosystems to a degree never seen before. Human activities have dire effects on the environment causing accelerating climate change, degradation of land, loss of species, and increasing inequalities between and within countries. These are grand and urgent challenges that are complex and intertwined. We have to ask ourselves how we produce energy, food and water to societies with as little effects on the environment, ecosystems and climate as possible, and without compromising human health and equality. 

BECC research is about tackling the challenges mentioned above. Our researchers therefore study how direct and indirect human impacts on the climate and ecosystems influence biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, from local to global scales, and then integrate the knowledge generated to inform mitigation and adaptation decisions.

BECC uses its financial and human resources to support existing successful research groups and to stimulate interactions among them, thus creating a research environment that is more than the sum of its individual parts.

BECC Three Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges refer to issues where gaps in scientific understanding makes informed decisions difficult, on issues of pressing concern for the well-being of people and the environment by continued global change. BECC focuses on three Grand Challenges:

  • Carbon and Climate Change
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Biodiversity