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