Project

GreenEO is a Horizon Europe project that uses satellite data, environmental modelling, and artificial intelligence to support sustainable land-use practices across Europe.

As environmental pressures intensify, such as urban expansion, pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate-related risks, GreenEO aims to deliver actionable information for policymakers, land managers, and communities.

By integrating next-gen satellite data from EUMETSAT, digital technologies, atmospheric inverse models, and machine learning, GreenEO will provide decision-makers with advanced tools for land use, pollution tracking, and protect biodiversity.

The project’s mission is to:

• provide improved satellite-based environmental information to support sustainable nature protection practices
• focus on four land-use areas: cities, agricultural areas, forests and ecosystems
• facilitate the creation of practical applications such as high-resolution air quality maps, emissions tracking applications, forest fire services, and tools to monitor the health of ecosystems

[caption id="attachment_59467" align="alignnone" width="587"] See more on the projects' official web page[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_59460" align="alignnone" width="548"] See more on the projects' official web page[/caption]

Collaborators shown in map

Project

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) is funded by the European Union and administered by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

CAMS is a dedicated service within the Copernicus programme for providing services and data products to help understand European air quality and global atmospheric composition.

The CAMS2_64_bis project will support ECMWF to ensure the successful operation of the Global Fire Assimilation System (GFAS) and develop upgrades for improved accuracy up to 2028.

It will also provide daily input FRP products from the GOES and Himawari satellites and develop GFAS onwards to make best use of the fire radiative power (FRP) products from the latest polar orbiting satellites and the most relevant geostationary satellites for Europe.

The project will deliver four types of services:

1. NRT provision of level-2 FRP products from three geostationary satellites on an FTP server
2. Implementation of new GFAS developments and auxiliary data in the processing chain and git repository at ECMWF
3. Flexible on-demand support to ECMWF
4. Compilation of a report with plans for possible and recommended GFAS developments

Project

(The project is also known by: The Arctic Peat- And Forest-fire Information System (APFF))

Climate change, with Arctic temperatures rising at roughly twice the global rate (Arctic amplification), is expected to increase the frequency of wildfires. This heightens public concern about climate-related impacts such as poorer air quality in nearby cities, light-absorbing emissions that accelerate ice melt, and disturbances to Earth’s radiative balance.

Fires in northern high latitudes release substantial amounts of CO₂, CH₄, NO₂, black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC), and these emissions are often transported into Arctic regions. In northern areas, melting permafrost can expose peat—partly decomposed vegetation that has accumulated in wetlands over centuries. Peat stores carbon on a scale comparable to the current atmospheric carbon pool. When peatlands dry, they become vulnerable to fires that burn deep into the peat layers. Such peat fires can smoulder for months at relatively low temperatures, producing whitish, organic-carbon-rich haze in the lowest atmosphere. In contrast, flaming wildfires generate grey to black plumes with high soot content.

SPARKS (Sentinel and Copernicus powered Arctic Wildfire Knowledge System) is a new wildfire information service for the Arctic and northern latitudes. It utilizes Sentinel satellite data, Copernicus services, and FLEXPART model output to provide valuable information for climate-aware citizens, researchers, and environmental entities. Maps showing regions with active fires and burned areas will also distinguish between peat fires and forest fires. For large fires, the maps will also display areas affected by atmospheric transport of aerosols and gases.

SPARKS is funded by the European Commission Caroline Herschel Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP, FPA no.: 275/G/GRO/COPE/17/10042). The project is a collaboration between the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), the Tartu Observatory (TO), and NILU.

• https://www.copernicus-user-uptake.eu/
• https://www1.fpcup.eu/user-uptake/action-details/arctic-peat-and-forest-fire-information-system-503

Project

Revolutionizing Urban Sustainability with NatureScape
Led by NILU, NatureScape includes Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, University College Dublin, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Lublinie, Lisboa E-Nova, Nodibinajums Baltic Studies Centre, and Politecnico di Milano as partners. This project integrates Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) across seven cities: Oslo, Lublin, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Riga, and St. Gallen, turning urban areas into thriving ecosystems.

Why NatureScape?
Cities face challenges like pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. NatureScape tackles these by focusing on sustainable maintenance and governance of urban green spaces post-implementation, ensuring that NBS thrive and benefit both communities and ecosystems.
How Does NatureScape Work?

At its core are Transformation Labs (T-Labs), which do more than beautify, they revolutionize urban-nature interactions through scientific research, community involvement, and innovative governance. These T-Labs enhance urban resilience, biodiversity, and resident well-being. Communities use digital tools and citizen science within T-Labs to actively maintain and monitor NBS, fostering a deep connection between people and their environment.

What Makes NatureScape Unique?
NatureScape employs a dynamic, non-linear approach to urban transformation, blending local insights with expert knowledge through modern digital and participatory methods. This ensures NBS become integral, cherished parts of the urban landscape.

The Bigger Picture
By establishing NBS T-Labs in varied climates, from Northern Europe's humidity to the Mediterranean's dryness, NatureScape develops a flexible model for urban sustainability.

Join the Green Revolution
NatureScape is a movement towards cities that are not merely inhabited but truly alive. As we navigate environmental challenges, NatureScape offers a sustainable way forward, demonstrating the transformative power of integrating nature into urban life.

Project

NILU and Ricardo support the European Commission with an evaluation of the siting of industrial monitoring stations (sampling points).

Air quality measurements at industrial locations are intended to assess the impact of industrial emission on population health and ecosystems. Therefore, appropriately sited sampling points are essential to understanding the impact of industrial emissions, which is necessary to design a meaningful monitoring network, implement effective abatement strategies, and inform supplementary assessment methods such as dispersion modelling.

The AAQD (Ambient Air Quality Directive) provide rules and guidance for monitoring stations across different environments, including specific rules for those classified as industrial. The overarching aim is to underpin assessments by the European Commission of whether the criteria for placing industrial sampling points are applied throughout the European Union in a harmonised manner and whether the application of the criteria ensures that the highest exposure of the general population to air pollution from industrial sources is measured in all air quality zones.

We have carried out an evaluation of the 2019 monitoring network across Europe in the vicinity of industrial sources and developed an interactive viewer that is to help air quality monitoring experts understand whether their current industrial monitoring network is in alignment with the AAQDs requirements.

The interactive viewer displays specific siting criteria, such as proximity to the nearest sampling point, affected population, protected ecosystems, and prevailing wind direction – and cover every pollutant analyzed in the study, including Particulate Matter (PM10), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulphur Oxides (SOx), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb).

Publication:

Assessing the siting of air quality sampling points at industrial sites

Map viewer:

Map viewer - Assessing the siting of air quality sampling points at industrial sites

Project

Project

Project

In 2001, a global agreement, the Stockholm Convention, was signed to protect humans and the environment from known persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

POPs in food, humans and the environment have largely been discovered using advanced chemical analysis methods. A limitation of this method is that the new pollutants we find tend to be similar to the pollutants we already know about.

In the DEMO project, we take as our starting point the thousands of chemical substances that we already know are produced in significant quantities.

Based on this knowledge, we will develop and apply mathematical models to understand and predict whether these substances have properties that indicate that they can be transported via air and sea on a global scale and accumulate in the Arctic.

Based on an initial ranking, we will then repeat the analysis, but then also take into account how likely it is that we will find these prioritized substances in Svalbard, at what levels and where. We will use the revised list of relevant substances to plan and conduct fieldwork in Svalbard.

Finally, we will develop and apply new chemical analysis methods to see if any of the relevant substances are present in the environmental samples.

Through these research activities, we hope to gain better insight into whether there are chemical substances that may have gone under the radar, primarily with regard to their possible occurrence in the Arctic, but possibly also in a regulatory context.

Preliminary results from the project have been presented at scientific conferences, as well as communicated to relevant decision-makers involved in chemical strategies for substances that can accumulate in the Arctic (the Norwegian Environment Agency, OECD and the Stockholm Convention (POPRC)).

The project is also contributing to the upgrade of the existing modelling tool developed by the OECD to calculate long-range environmental transport and the overall lifetime of chemical substances in the environment.

Project

ACTRIS is a pan-European distributed research infrastructure (RI). It produces data for the understanding of short-lived atmospheric constituents and their trends, impacts on health, climate, and interactions. This is a European infrastructure that was established as "European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)" in April 2023, with Norwegian membership.

ACTRIS provides high quality, reliable data of ca 100 atmospheric variables serving scientists addressing atmospheric, climate and air pollution science.

In particular, the understanding of spatially and temporal trends is greatly improved. NILU leads the ACTRIS data centre, which currently offers measurements from 80 state-of-the-art observational platforms/locations distributed across Europe. 3 of these are Norwegian:

• Zeppelin (Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard)
• Birkenes (Agder county)
• Trollhaugen (Antarctica)

All ACTRIS data are managed and made available to the user communities through the ACTRIS Data Centre.

ACTRIS-Norway’s overall objective is implementation of the ACTRIS Data Centre. These efforts will strengthen the curation and access to datasets of surface trace gas and aerosol concentrations in Norway, Europe and beyond. New functionalities and improvements to existing data centre functionalities will be implemented including database updates and data portal updates. This builds on a well-established internationally leading initiative already established and led by Norway.

New services integrating with international programmes will be developed, with the potential to elevate the profile of Norwegian research in this area. The EBAS and ACTRIS systems are a key aspect of Norwegian atmospheric composition research, and the leading international data centre of its type. The project will strengthen Norwegian participation in international environmental frameworks, European Infrastructures, and Open Science initiatives.

Project

PARC is an EU-wide research and innovation partnership programme to support EU and national chemical risk assessment and risk management bodies with new data, knowledge, methods, networks and skills to address current, emerging and novel chemical safety challenges.

PARC will facilitate the transition to next generation risk assessment to better protect human health and the environment, in line with the Green Deal?s zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free environment and will be an enabler for the future EU ?Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability?. It builds in part on the work undertaken and experience acquired in past and on-going research and innovation actions, but goes beyond by its vocation to establish an EU-wide risk assessment hub of excellence.

To contribute to several expected impacts of destination 2 ?Living and working in a health-promoting environment?, PARC will organise the activities to reach three specific objectives:

- An EU-wide sustainable cross-disciplinary network to identify and agree on research and innovation needs and to support research uptake into regulatory chemical risk assessment.
- Joint EU research and innovation activities responding to identified priorities in support of current regulatory risk assessment processes for chemical substances and to emerging challenges.
- Strengthening existing capacities and building new transdisciplinary platforms to support chemical risk assessment.

The Partnership brings together Ministries and national public health and risk assessment agencies, as well as research organisations and academia from almost all of EU Member States. Representatives of Directorates-General of the EC and EU agencies involved in the monitoring of chemicals and the assessment of risks are also participating.

PARC will meet the needs of risk assessment agencies to better anticipate emerging risks and respond to the challenges and priorities of the new European policies.

Project

The main aim of the CELLUX project was to develop a novel pharmaceutical based on CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in the form of eye drops to treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

This treatment, in combination with stem cell-based therapeutic strategies, aims to halt degeneration and restore vision. The progression of AMD is associated with an increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the eye, leading to retinal cell death. This chronic disease is a major cause of blindness in elderly people and affects millions worldwide. CeO2 NPs have antioxidant properties due to their unique electronic structure; when reduced to the nanoscale, oxygen defects appear on their surface, serving as sites for free radical scavenging.

Within the project, CeO2-NPs were developed to regulate cellular redox potential and protect tissue from oxidative stress. Nanoceria eye drops were formulated, and treatment with these drops reduced the loss of retinal cells and visual dysfunction, as well as decreased inflammation. In combination with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell transplants, increased RPE cell survival was demonstrated in rats, along with improved retinal light responses.

We demonstrated that such antioxidant therapy is a promising approach for enhancing the efficacy of RPE cell therapy in retinal degenerative diseases. Safety assessments of the nanoceria were performed in various models, and no hazardous potential was detected. Additionally, no irritation to human corneal epithelium was observed, confirming that the eye drop formulation is safe for ocular application.

NILU studied the safety of CeO2 NPs using in vitro models, measuring both the induction of cell death and DNA damage. Furthermore, the mechanisms of CeO2 NPs interaction with cells were studied using confocal microscopy, and the antioxidant protective effects of CeO2-NPs were compared with those of known antioxidants.

The project was financed through the ERA-NET EuroNanoMed3 program and was coordinated by the University Hospital (VHIR) in Barcelona. The consortium consisted of six partners from five countries: Spain, Norway, Italy, the Czech Republic, and France.
The results of the project are promising and will be published in scientific journals, even after the project is completed. Furthermore, the results will be used in new applications for research funding to achieve a higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL), with the goal of developing and producing eye drops for the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Project

The RISKRES project aims to investigate the exposure of the Norwegian economy to climate and environmental hazards, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. The project will begin by exploring the Norwegian economy by analyzing activities in different sectors at a fine scale, understanding the spatial distribution of value added. The goal is to distribute Norway's GDP at a point level. A map of Norwegian activity can be overlaid with maps of natural hazards (for example, floods) to understand the most vulnerable areas of the economy, the economic sectors affected, and the regions involved. The role of critical infrastructure, such as transportation or energy infrastructure, will be explored to evaluate Norwegian economic dependence on this infrastructure.
This project aims to explore the role of linkages within the economy, specifically in terms of demand and supply, to analyze how the impact of a hazardous event can propagate throughout the economy. The project will also discuss measures that can be taken to mitigate such risks and evaluate the mitigation potential of several approaches. The goal is to inform policymakers and local actors of the means available to them to reduce their exposure and minimize the impact of future events.

Started in September 2023, the project has so far focused on the following activities: Collecting data on location and key economic parameters at company level, as well as maps of flood risk for both coastal and river floods. Both datasets were plotted on a map of Norway to indicate which economic actors are most exposed to floods. Preliminary results are made available at https://apps.sustainability.nilu.no/activitymap-no.

In addition, the project contributed to a study on limits to graphite supply in the battery scale-up scenarios, required for electrification of the global transportation sector. Main conclusions were that both natural and synthetic graphite supply could be a constraining factor in the most ambitious decarbonization scenarios (Net Zero emissions in 2050), highlighting the importance of systematic recycling of graphite in batteries.

Project

Cleancon (Clean Construction Machinery) is an EU-funded project under the Interreg Øresund–Kattegat–Skagerrak programme aimed at promoting the use of zero-emission vehicles and construction machinery.

In the project, public and private actors work together with the goal of increasing the use of renewable energy in both the public and private sectors by highlighting zero-emission machinery for construction projects and municipal operations.

The project is coordinated by RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden.

Partners include, among others, Kunnskapsbyen Lillestrøm, municipalities from Norway and Sweden, NILU, and a number of stakeholders (e.g., VOLVO, the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management, NAPOP AS, NASTA).

Project

ANALYST aims to accelerate the transition towards a safer and more sustainable industrial value chain while encouraging and expanding the existing knowledge on the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) framework.

The project implements robust and consistent methodologies and guidelines for integrative health, environment, social, and economic impact assessments of PVC materials at the EU and global scale.

ANALYST will develop an open platform intended to embed both the digital multi-criteria decision-making support tool (DMDMS) and a large number of resources (results of the validation program, training actions and materials and other dissemination and communication resources). The DMDMS uses an own-generated cohesive and interoperable database that combines different data sources.

ANALYST also comprises a validation program, with 3 different use cases covering the whole PVC value chain, namely Suspension-PVC (flexible), Emulsion-PVC (flexible) and Suspension-PVC (foamed rigid), of the automotive and construction sectors.

The goal is to support impact-based informed investment decisions, the SSbD framework, and the implementation of policies for future chemicals and materials through an improved understanding of potential sustainability trade-offs.

All in all, ANALYST will support the New Industrial Strategy for Europe, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) while fully aligning with the European Commission's Green Deal for cleaner and more climate-neutral industrial value chains.

Project

PROPLANET addresses novel coating materials solutions, tackling the problem from a sustainable-business perspective, enabling overcoming the barrier for environmental protection, safety, chemical improvements, and circular value chains.

The main goal of PROPLANET is to design and optimise 3 innovative coatings for industrial sectors: textile, food-packaging, and glass.

The value chain of each product is optimised from raw material source to End Of Life of products, ensuring the circular economy.

All coatings are designed based on Safety and Sustainability by design (SSbD) concepts and optimised with mathematical computational tools such as first-principles-based models, in silico models, in vitro toxicological assessment, environmental fate models, and sustainability assessment.

On top of that, replication activities aided by a powerful PROPLANET Replication tool based on data-driven algorithms and multiobjective optimization (MO) will promote the integration of the novel coatings on different applications, supporting their route to market, operating at different conditions, and following an Eco-design thinking.

A well-balanced consortium, covering all actors in the value chain, formed by end-users, technology solution providers and research organizations, ensures the successful achievement of objectives, which will allow a wide-spreading replication strategy towards efficient and safe designs for new coatings.

Project

NILU has carried out dispersion and deposition calculations of amines and amines' degradation products from the Elkem Rana conceptual Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plant in Mo.

The study has been commissioned by Elkem Rana as part of the pre-Front End Engineering Design (FEED) project to develop a concept for CCS at the smelter facility in Rana.

The estimated maximum yearly concentration of the sum of nitrosamines and nitramines in air has been compared with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) recommendation of 0.3 ng/m³ for the relevant solvents.

From deposition analysis and by using water catchment and precipitation data the concentration in drinking water has been estimated and compared with the NIPH recommended level in drinking water (4 ng/l) for relevant recipients in the region around Mo i Rana.

The dispersion calculations have been conducted using the WRF-EMEP, an atmospheric dispersion model which in this case is driven by the weather forecasting model WRF. The formation of amine degradation products is post-processed where the relevant chemical and physical processes have been taken into account.

The figure below shows a typical resulting concentration field of nitramines and nitrosamines from the method applied. The concentrations are within the NIPH recommendations with a significant margin.

[caption id="attachment_58480" align="alignnone" width="459"] The figure shows a typical resulting concentration field of nitramines and nitrosamines from the method applied. The concentrations are within the NIPH recommendations with a significant margin.[/caption]

Project

Equinor Hammerfest LNG on Melkøya is required to monitor the mercury content in precipitation, vegetation, soil and freshwater fish. The requirement is in connection with changes in the emission permit.

The project will last four years, from 2025 to 2028, and is a collaboration with Akvaplan-niva in Tromsø.

The purpose of the project is to map the levels of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in precipitation, vegetation, soil, freshwater, freshwater fish and sediment, as well as Hg in air at five sites located around Melkøya.

The goal is to obtain updated knowledge about the environmental impact of Equinor’s emissions from the LNG plant.

The stations are located between 6 and 20 km from Melkøya. The sampling locations are common to the entire measurement programme, i.e. the programme maps the distribution of components in air, precipitation, vegetation, soil and the freshwater environment.

The samples are taken during the frost-free period between June and September each year for four years.

Project

The European Citizen Science (ECS) project aims to create a globally connected, inclusive, and strong citizen science community that drives societal change across Europe. Building upon the achievements of previous initiatives like Cos4Cloud, the project seeks to strengthen and expand the reach of citizen science through targeted capacity-building and awareness-raising activities. Central to this effort is the establishment of a European Citizen Science Academy and a network of 28 ECS Ambassadors. This will foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across diverse European contexts.

With a vision of uniting communities through science, ECS focuses on empowering individuals and organizations to address societal challenges and create opportunities for sustainable development. The project advances the creation and sharing of citizen science data, enhances digital skills for FAIR principles and open science practices, and contributes to European policymaking. By further developing the European Citizen Science Platform through co-design, ECS strengthens its role as a unifying resource for actors across Europe.

ECS is committed to fostering inclusion and diversity, ensuring that citizen science becomes a mainstream approach to tackling societal issues. Through the development of free training programs and advocacy efforts, the project not only builds capacity but also highlights the transformative impact of citizen science on research, society, and the economy. By mobilizing communities, enhancing skills, and driving innovation, ECS paves the way for a more inclusive and sustainable Europe. Here citizen science serves as a powerful tool for addressing today’s challenges and shaping a better future.

Project

more4nature is a transformative project aimed at fostering a citizen-centric approach to environmental governance. The project envisions a sustainable future where citizens and communities play a pivotal role in reversing environmental degradation through active participation in compliance assurance and conservation efforts. By addressing critical challenges such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and deforestation, more4nature leverages citizen science as a powerful tool to drive collaborative action and systemic change.

Central to the project is the integration of Citizen Science Initiatives (CSIs) into environmental compliance assurance frameworks. More4nature enhances the capacity of CSIs to generate relevant, reliable data while strengthening their collaboration with public authorities to address data gaps and shape effective policies. The project also prioritizes the validation and integration of citizen-generated data into the European Open Science Cloud and the Green Deal Data Space, ensuring its accessibility and usability for broader environmental governance.

Through its socio-technical approach, more4nature creates synergies between CSIs and innovative platforms such as Living Labs and Fab Labs. These collaborations empower communities to co-design and implement actionable solutions for environmental challenges, aligning with the values of sustainability and digital transformation. By engaging 162 existing CSIs, 98 authorities, and numerous organizations across Europe and beyond, the project ensures widespread participation and lasting impact.

More4nature represents a bold step toward a future of shared responsibility for natural resource management. By fostering partnerships, enhancing data-driven governance, and mobilizing citizens as active environmental stewards, the project seeks to redefine conservation practices and inspire global replication of its innovative model.

Project

URBANITY aims to redefine urban environmental management and mobility planning by integrating innovative sensor technologies with active citizen participation. By addressing the challenges of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the project seeks to foster sustainable urban environments and promote healthier cities in Norway.

At the heart of URBANITY is a novel approach to environmental monitoring. The project employs state-of-the-art low-cost sensors for real-time, high-resolution data collection on air quality and traffic. These sensor networks, combined with advanced data assimilation and machine learning techniques, will provide municipalities with actionable insights to design and implement effective environmental policies. Citizens, too, play a pivotal role as co-creators, contributing data and engaging in participatory processes to shape their urban spaces.

URBANITY's methodology is centered on Urban Living Labs (ULLs) in Oslo, Bergen, and Kristiansand. These labs serve as dynamic platforms for experimentation and innovation, uniting citizens, local authorities and researchers to co-design mobility solutions tailored to local needs. By blending digital tools, such as geographic information systems, with traditional participatory methods, URBANITY ensures inclusivity and broad engagement.

Beyond monitoring, URBANITY focuses on actionable outcomes. From improving emission inventories to co-creating sustainable mobility services, the project emphasizes scalable, citizen-centered solutions. By fostering community participation and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, URBANITY envisions a future of cleaner air, reduced emissions, and resilient urban environments.

Project

CitiObs seeks to revolutionize urban environmental governance by empowering citizens to become active contributors to the observation and management of their local environments. The project’s core objective is to consolidate and scale up Citizen Observatories (COs) as tools for fostering sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity in urban areas across Europe. By integrating citizen-generated data with advanced environmental observation systems, CitiObs aims to bridge the gap between local action and global environmental goals, including the European Green Deal.

The project addresses the urgent need for innovative and inclusive approaches to mitigate urban environmental challenges such as air pollution and climate change. By leveraging low-cost sensors and wearable technologies, CitiObs empowers diverse communities to monitor key environmental parameters while actively contributing to policy development and local decision-making processes.

CitiObs employs a co-creation framework, working closely with five Frontrunner cases, 30 Alliance cases, and 50 Fellow cases to develop, test, and scale its tools and methodologies. This multi-level engagement ensures that COs are adapted to diverse socio-political contexts while promoting horizontal and vertical governance models. Activities such as needs assessment workshops, capacity-building sessions, and strategic roadshows ensure the broad participation of stakeholders, from local citizens to EU policymakers.

The project’s outcomes include the development of a comprehensive knowledge platform and the CitiObs Cookbook, which will serve as resources for cities worldwide to establish or enhance their own Citizen Observatories. By formalizing the role of citizen-generated data in environmental management, CitiObs not only legitimizes but also elevates the contributions of individuals and communities to achieving sustainable urban futures.

Through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement, CitiObs envisions a future where cities are not only more resilient and sustainable but also deeply reflective of the collective input and aspirations of their citizens.

Project

NILU, on behalf of Alcoa Norway AS, Mosjøen division, has conducted measurements of fluoride, SO₂, heavy metals, PAH, and dust deposition in the ambient air around the aluminium smelter in Mosjøen. The measurements were carried out from May 22 to August 19, 2024, and the results show that all measured components were well below the individual limit values, target values, and air quality criteria during the measurement period.

Mosjøen is most affected by emissions from the smelter during the summer months due to the prevailing wind direction from the fjord, over the smelter, and towards the town. Therefore, the measurement results provide an upper estimate of the smelter's contribution to the concentrations in Mosjøen throughout the year.

The SO₂ concentration in Mosjøen, measured at Helgeland Kraft (south of Mosjøen centre) and at six locations in Mosjøen, was well below the annual mean limit value (20 µg/m³) during the measurement period. Previous measurements from 2009 also showed that SO₂ concentrations were well below the limit values for hourly, daily, and annual means. The fluoride concentration, measured at Helgeland Kraft, was significantly lower than at Finnskoggata in 2004. The particulate matter concentration (PM₁₀) was also well below the annual mean limit value (20 µg/m³) during the measurement period.

The metal concentrations in Mosjøen, measured in PM₁₀ at Helgeland Kraft, were well below the limit and target values as well as the air quality criteria for annual means. PAH concentrations were far below the target value for annual means of BaP, and the levels were lower than in 2008/09. Dust deposition was measured at three locations in Mosjøen, and the monthly mean values for the amount of water-insoluble dust were well below the limit value.

Overall, the measurements show that the air quality in Mosjøen is well within the established limit values, and the contribution from the smelter to local air pollution is limited.

Project

MetVed is a long-standing project that began in 2017 with the development the MedVed model, a methodology to estimate Residential Wood Burning emissions at high spatial resolution in Norway.

In 2020, the project entered its second phase, during which the MetVed model was significantly updated and improved. These updates included the incorporation of new emission factors and additional species, such as greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O), as well as improvement to the model’s functionality. Among the key improvements are:

• New parameters to describe the emission altitude,
• Improved temporal variation of emissions,
• Inclusion of a holiday cabin emission module to better account for the distinct characteristics of emissions from cabins compared to residential buildings. For instance, cabins are more dispersed and often located in rural areas. The model distinguishes between alpine and coastal cabins, which have distinctive seasonal variations.

The MetVed model uses diverse datasets, including wood consumption for heating at county level, official emission factors, building and property type data at 250-meter resolution, meteorological data from observation, location of wood burning installation and other heating technologies from the fire and rescue agencies and the housing market, and energy consumption in residential buildings.

The MetVed model provides emissions at 250 meters resolution for Norway, covering both air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, BC, OC, CO, PAH, Nox, PCBs, dioxins, NMVOC and SO₂) and greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O).

These outputs are delivered with updated residential emissions to the Norwegian Environment Agency for use in the climate gas accounting at municipality level and air quality services, including air quality forecast.

Project

The SEEDS project is a Horizon 2020 funded project.

SEEDS aims at using all available satellite observations to improve estimates of European air quality and pollutant emissions.

In addition to the coordination of the project, NILU was responsible for work to understand dry deposition fluxes by combining satellite observations with a land surface model to better understand the role played by vegetation, droughts, and heatwaves on surface fluxes of trace gases and pollutants.

NILU also studied the emissions of volatile organic compounds from vegetation within the same frame of work.