With the latest political agreements, the number of offshore wind turbines will increase significantly in order to meet the demand for less fossil fuel.

This development must not take place at the expense of nature and biodiversity and, consequently, there is a need for knowledge about how the green transition affects marine ecosystems.

The Department of Ecoscience at Aarhus University has just established the Centre for Green Transition and Marine Ecology to accommodate the consultancy that will be needed in the future. The head of the centre will be head of section and senior researcher Jacob Nabe-Nielsen.

The marine environment is in crisis, and it is of the utmost importance that our knowledge is strengthened and brought into play for society and, in particular, decision-makers when we affect the marine environment - e.g. with a number of new wind farms.

"With our new centre, we bring together all our key researchers, advisers and projects in a common centre that contributes knowledge about marine ecology and biodiversity. We have the strongest competences when it comes to marine ecology and the understanding of the effects of offshore projects on the environment, and it is therefore an added benefit to bring all our forces together in a joint centre”, says Mikkel Tamstorf, Head of the Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University.

Comprehensive knowledge is particularly important in relation to the recently announced funding for marine nature and Denmark’s marine spatial plan.

"It is crucial that we can stimulate environments in the sea, where a rich biodiversity is ensured during the green transition. We need to base our efforts on very thorough scientific knowledge and, in addition to researchers, we will be working closely with the authorities, energy companies and other stakeholders”, says Jacob Nabe-Nielsen, Centre Director for Centre for Green Transition and Marine Ecology, Aarhus University.

Jacob Nabe-Nielsen has a solid background in marine biology with particular focus on the combined effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances.