The Comprehensive Climate and Environmental Strategy for UiO was adopted by the University Board on 8 February 2022. The strategy sets ambitious goals for the university and was followed up by an extensive action plan for 2022-2023. The revised action plan was approved by the Rector on 22 August 2024.
The action plan is adjusted annually and only includes new activities, not work that is already under way.
The action points for 2024 are divided into the following categories:
Green campus
UiO will: reduce the university’s climate footprint and develop ?green campuses?.
UiO aims to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, and we aim to develop a campus that reflects a sustainable institution. To achieve this, we need to work in areas such as procurements, travels, energy consumption, and waste management. Additionally, we will enhance biodiversity on campus and promote a more climate-friendly commute. A plan for reducing our digital energy consumption is under way.
In 2022, emissions from procurements accounted for 26 percent of our total carbon emissions. In 2023, systematic efforts were made to make procurements more sustainable. A new framework agreement for sustainable catering was introduced, that will reduce emissions from food delivered to UiO by 60 percent.
By 2030, UiO aims to reduce emissions from business trips by 50 percent compared to 2018 levels. In 2022, the emissions from air travel were reduced by 33 percent. To continue this trend, we are developing new policies for travelling.
UiO aims to reduce energy consumption in our buildings by at least 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. From 2018 to 2022 these emissions have been reduced by 21 percent.
Action points for 2024
Procurements and reuse
1. Develop a new procurement policy to reduce consumption at UiO.
2. Require eco-labelled products in procurements when possible.
3. Establish a digital platform to make it easier for employees to reuse furniture and equipment at UiO.
4. Establish a user-friendly digital platform to increase the number of students and employees borrowing equipment from the Library of Things.
Travels
5. Implement new guidelines for business trips to achieve the goal of a 50 percent reduction in emissions from travel.
6. Enter into a new agreement for business trips that better facilitates climate-friendly travelling.
7. Provide all units at UiO with an annual report containing an overview of their travel emissions to encourage emission reductions.
8. Introduce parking fees.
9. Implement an agreement with Ruter that provides discounts on public transportation.
10. Establish secure and temperature-controlled parking spots for bicycles at Blindern and T?yen.
11. Organise a “Bike-to-work” campaign to encourage more people to walk, run, or cycle to work.
Buildings and energy consumption
12. Develop clear guidelines to ensure climate and environmental considerations in all construction and renovation projects at UiO.
13. Install solar panels on the roof of Ole Johan Dahls hus to produce approximately 300 000 kWh every year.
14. Install sunshades on suitable buildings to reduce the need for ventilation.
15. Implement guidelines in the organisation to reduce the climate footprint from use and storage of data.
Outdoor areas
16. Put up signs with a QR code providing information about our biodiversity work, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and valuable outdoor areas on our campuses.
17. Work towards better utilisation of our special outdoor areas in education on the Blindern campus.
18. Set aside 40 percent of the lawn areas at Blindern campus to wildflowers and long grass meadows.
19. Use the expertise of the Natural History Museum to work systematically with biodiversity comprehension at UiO.
20. Test the use of rainwater for cleaning machines and bicycles during the summer months.
Research and innovation
UiO will: lower barriers to and strengthen interdisciplinary research and collaboration on climate, environment, and sustainability.
The interdisciplinary initiatives UiO: Democracy, UiO: Life Science and UiO: Energy and environment are important catalysts for new collaborative projects across disciplines and faculty boundaries.
The most significant new organisational measure is a proposal from the autumn of 2023 to establish a Sustainability Hub at Nedre Blindern to strengthen research, education, and community engagement related to sustainability. In 2023, a temporary office space was made available in the city centre for interdisciplinary research groups.
Action points for 2024:
21. Develop a proposal to the University Board about the establishment and organisation of a unit for sustainability (The Sustainability Hub).
22. Enhance competence in interdisciplinary research management through the Research Leadership Programme and in collaboration with relevant centres and interdisciplinary initiatives.
23. Contribute to interdisciplinary PhD programmes in climate, environment, and sustainability through Circle U.
24. Highlight best practises on how we can collaborate most effectively in research and education across faculty boundaries.
25. Strengthen the focus on student-driven innovation in sustainability and the green transition.
Education
UiO will: offer all students research-based education on climate, the environment and sustainability, and, when possible, integrated into their respective disciplines.
In 2023, several faculties and units at UiO strengthened and renewed their educational offer on climate, the environment and sustainability. Several 5-credit courses on sustainability have been developed and made available for all bachelor-level students as part of the Sustainability certificate. A new honours programme at the master’s level in Sustainable Health has also been developed. Such interdisciplinary initiatives are essential to the green transition.
Action points for 2024:
26. Improve administrative routines for interdepartmental collaboration to facilitate the development of interdisciplinary study programmes and courses.
27. Improve the information about our interdisciplinary study programmes in climate, the environment, and sustainability.
28. Offer didactics about sustainability to all participants in the University Pedagogy courses.
29. Explore the possibility of establishing an interdepartmental bachelor’s- or master’s programme in climate, the environment, and sustainability.
Communications and external relations
UiO will: be an active dialogue partner and mediator of research-based knowledge and contribute to a sustainable development through our external relations.
In 2023, several open events about sustainability were held at the Climate House and in Domus Bibliotheca. These will continue. The podcast “Sofies gr?nne skifte” about climate and the environment was launched, and a new digital portal was created to showcase the work done on climate, the environment, and sustainability at UiO. Arena-conferences for 2024 about energy transition and climate adaptation were prepared in collaboration with Oslo Science City. The National Sustainability Committee for Agenda 2030 in the higher education sector, led by UiO, organised the SDG Conference in Bergen in 2024, and UiO became a member of the Norwegian Climate Foundation.
Action points for 2024:
30. The Green Office will establish mini grants to encourage climate and environmental projects among students.
31. In dialogue with the public and private sector, develop a pilot project in climate, environment, and sustainability for continuing education.
32. Conduct a pilot project to develop collaboration between researchers, businesses, and the public sector on energy and the environment, in collaboration with the Horizon Institute at Leeds University and Oslo Science City.