Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

CDE is Switzerland’s centre of excellence for sustainable development. One of the University of Bern’s strategic research centres, we are tasked with mainstreaming sustainability throughout the university’s research and teaching.

We conduct research and teaching on behalf of a more sustainable world. Our aim is to chart pathways to sustainable development and to initiate transformations in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In our strategy, we show how we are committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda through our theory of change. We combine sound research with inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to analysis and transformation. Our research agenda is created within long-standing partnerships spanning the global North and South.

News

Climate-resilient integrated farming systems in Cambodia and Laos

Southeast Asia's agricultural systems need to become more climate resilient. Integrated farming systems show promise, combining multiple crops and multiple enterprises such as livestock, apiary, and aquaculture on a single farm. Our new project aims to improve the development of small-scale farming in Laos and Cambodia through novel approaches in three areas: farming systems, scaling up pathways beyond the farm level, and education and capacity building.

“Further loss of soil fertility and biodiversity will cause yields to decline”

In spring, the Swiss parliament will likely postpone the environmental and climate targets in agricultural policy proposed by the Federal Council in June 2022. A scientific panel called for a very different course of action at the recent first Swiss Food Summit. Bettina Scharrer of CDE was one of the main authors of the relevant scientific report. Is the Swiss parliament heading in a direction that puts the country’s food security at risk? Read the interview in German.

Indigenous knowledge for conservation governance innovations

Traditional knowledge and customary land rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are central to protected area management. That’s why they should have a greater say in conservation governance. Examples in the Peruvian Amazon show how this can work. In a new project CDE and the Wyss Academy for Nature are investigating the outcomes of Indigenous-led governance schemes and their potential for other forest frontier contexts.

Pigou and “The value of the whale”

How can we solve human-made environmental crises? Economic liberals will say: by following the “polluter pays” principle and pricing in the damage caused. This begs the question why, 100 years after the birth of that simple principle, we’re still no further along. In her blog post “Conversation killer”, CDE director Sabin Bieri hunts for clues – and shows why we need a substantial debate about innovative solutions beyond the free-market mainstream.

Talking and writing about mobility in the context of sustainability

The design of public spaces, especially transportation areas, is usually oriented towards cars. This way of valuing cars is supported by our language, which typically establishes cars as the norm. Changing our behaviours around mobility therefore demands a language that reflects a sustainable, climate-conscious approach to transportation. Our new project “Language Compass on Transportation and Public Space” has two goals: Raising awareness and developing a language guide for language use that portrays resource-conserving transportation forms in a positive way and promotes changes in mobility behaviour.

Working for land rights – with nuance, but a firm commitment

He has worked at CDE for 30 years – until recently as co-leader of its Sustainability Governance Impact Area – and is one of the leading figures behind the global Land Matrix network. The latter is a renowned, scientifically supported network that documents land deals by international investors. Shortly before his retirement, Markus Giger earned his doctorate with a dissertation on the topic. His is the story of a scientist who did not view himself as one for many years.

Think new and act differently: CAS Sustainable Development

From knowledge to action towards the 2030 Agenda: The CAS Sustainable Development offers space for reflection, conveys knowledge, presents fields of action, and provides support for putting theory into practice. Register for this continuing education course today and learn to be a networked thinker and doer. More information in German.

SWEET Lantern: Living Labs – interfaces for the energy transition

In order to promote the energy transition in Switzerland, scientists from several universities and living labs have launched the “Lantern” research project. Specialists and citizens are collaborating to find solutions to foster decarbonization in people’s lifestyles and ways of working. The initiative is funded by the SWEET programme of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. CDE is participating in research on the energy-saving potential of new work models and in developing an integrated impact analysis focused on technological, economic, and social issues.

Jhum – Naga Shifting Cultivation

The Naga people have deep historic, cultural, and spiritual ties to their land, which they manage according to their customary tenure systems. One of these practices is called shifting cultivation or “Jhum”. The film by Resource Rights for the Indigenous People (RRtIP) and CDE highlights the importance of customary systems of Indigenous peoples and the contribution these systems have to food security and livelihood protection of remote Indigenous peoples.

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