EduNate Cities - Bergen

Bergen and a Different European Climate Challenge

Bergen, 21–27 September 2025 — The Norwegian city, through the County Governor of Vestland, hosted the second knowledge exchange week of the European Erasmus + project EduNate Cities, an initiative that connects experiences and solutions to tackle the most pressing environmental challenges. Following Mannheim, Bergen proved to be an open-air laboratory for analysing and managing the effects of climate change and implementing innovative urban adaptation strategies.

Increasingly intense rainfall, landslides, flooding, biodiversity loss and ecological imbalances — including a significant rise in terrestrial and marine heatwaves, where temperatures far exceed seasonal averages — are among the critical issues Bergen is facing. These are exacerbated by altered seasonal patterns and the spread of invasive species. The week brought together city officials from Bergen and the County Governor of Vestland, alongside experts, researchers and practitioners, to share challenges and concrete solutions through field visits and targeted meetings.

From Theory to Practice: Bergen’s Implemented Solutions

Bergen has chosen to respond with structural interventions and forward-looking policies, focusing on innovative green and blue infrastructure, integrated planning and ambitious sustainability goals.

Some emblematic examples include:

🏛️ Cultural Heritage Under Pressure: The Case of Bryggen

The historic district of Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be raised by 1.4 metres to protect it from rising sea levels. This intervention forms part of a broader urban adaptation strategy to safeguard cultural assets threatened by climate change.

🌊 Stormwater Management: Green and Blue Infrastructure

A large open urban waterway is being designed to cross Bergen, improving drainage while preserving century-old trees.
Drainage pipes are being converted into open channels to reduce hydrogeological risk and promote biodiversity, with water directed towards the sea. Urban vegetation is being designed to absorb excess water.

🌿 Invasive Terrestrial Species: Monitoring and Control

The management of invasive species is integrated into urban green space planning and the maintenance of city arboreta.
Bergen is working with the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre (Artsdatabanken) to monitor invasive species such as: Japanese knotweed, Water hyacinth, American mistletoe.
Vestland County has adopted regional biodiversity plans that sometimes include: Rotational manual and mechanical removal, Physical barriers, Controlled biological methods.

🌡️ Marine Heatwaves, Invasive Marine Species and Biodiversity Loss: Impacts and Responses

According to Nature Climate Change, between 2023 and 2024, marine heatwave days increased 3.5 times, with nearly 10% of the oceans reaching record temperatures.
Species such as Arctic cod, salmon and perch are showing: Disrupted life and reproductive cycles, and Forced migration to cooler waters.
Bergen, Vestland and Norway are responding with: Continuous monitoring and early warning systems (Institute of Marine Research), Pilot projects in sustainable aquaculture, Ecological adaptation plans, Fishing regulations and protected zones.
Rising temperatures are also accelerating the spread of non-native marine species, which compete with native ones. Sensitive habitats such as kelp forests and rocky seabeds are being compromised, leading to a loss of marine biodiversity.

🌱 Ecological Transition and Education

Bergen aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, with zero-emission building projects starting in 2025. The city is also promoting: Innovative rooftop vegetable gardens, Incentives for electric mobility, Support for sustainable agriculture.
Environmental education is being delivered through biodiversity schools, animal care programmes, arboreta, and educational and social farms, to train future generations and citizens in biodiversity protection.

During the week in the County Governor’s offices in Vestland, Norway’s broader environmental commitment was also highlighted. For example, it became the first country in the world to ban deforestation nationwide as of March 2025.

The Consortium at the second week in the County Governor of Vestland — and What’s Next

EduNate Cities is supported by a consortium of organisations that bring together educational, scientific, and policy expertise:

Starkmacher e.V. – Education and social engagement (programme coordinator)
Norwegian County Governor’s Office – Territorial governance and policy development
Fondazione Capellino – Scientific research and innovation

The week in Bergen forms part of the knowledge exchange programme funded by Erasmus+, and represents the second stage of a three-part journey:

1) Mannheim, Germany – Spring 2025
2) Bergen, Norway – Autumn 2025
3) Florence, Italy – Spring 2026

EduNate Cities now continues its journey: after Mannheim and Bergen, the next stop will be Florence in spring 2026. The goal remains clear — to build cities that are more resilient to climate change, inclusive of biodiversity, and sustainable, through shared knowledge and concrete action.

EduNate Cities: Where Innovation Meets Change

This is more than just an Erasmus+ project: it’s a movement that spans Europe, connecting cities, ideas and people to rethink the urban future. At the heart of each stop is a shared vision: to transform environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth, with experience-sharing as its foundation.