Press release | New solutions and tools are being created for achieving nature-centered future

Press release
Written By Maija Airos

New research and innovation project BIONEXT creates novel science-based solutions and tools for halting biodiversity loss and achieving sustainable, nature-centered future and societies.  

In the project we produce guidelines and recommendations; develop an innovative nexus modelling framework that simulates the interlinkages between biodiversity, climate change, food, water, energy, transport, and health; and create a Pathways app that allows users to explore and harness ways to create sustainable societies. The project outputs will be published in the project’s website that was launched today.

What is BIONEXT?

BIONEXT is a four-year project. During the four years we demonstrate the reasons for biodiversity loss and make visible the interdependences between biodiversity, water, food, energy, transport, climate, and health. We bring together scientists from different fields and utilize co-creation with stakeholders to generate results. Vice versa, the project gives input to policymakers, businesses, civil society, industries, scientists and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

“What makes BIONEXT especially important, is its high impact: the results will directly contribute to science brokerage, capacity building and networking to IPBES, EU policymakers, and civil society”, says project manager Jari Koskiaho.

Icons of blue water drop, food plate, thermometer, fan, bus, human stretching. Lines go from these to biodiversity which is a icon of land, ocea, forests, climate and houses. 
Graph 1. Illustration of the biodiversity nexus that demonstrates the interlinkages between biodiversity, water, food, climate, energy, transport, and health. Copyright: BIONEXT project.

The BIONEXT project highlights the utmost importance of transformative change: nature and biodiversity need to be at the heart of everyday choices and policymaking; they need to be at the heart of sustainable societies.

BIONEXT is funded by EU’s research and innovation program Horizon Europe and by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The project has 10 partners from eight European countries and is coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute.

For more information:

Maija Airos
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