Sustainability

The University of Bergen is a research-based comprehensive university where sustainability has long been a natural part of its activities. The work is anchored in UiB's strategy towards 2030, which sets out knowledge for sustainable and democratic development, and in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The UN has appointed UiB to lead the global university collaboration on Sustainable Development Goal 14 – life below water.

The University Board sets the overall climate and environmental goals. A dedicated steering group for climate work follows up the measures and reports to the board every year, and a network of environmental contacts at faculties and departments carries the work across the organization. The direction is set out in UiB's action plan for climate work 2023–2026.

UiB's main climate goal is to cut direct emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 89 per cent by 2030, measured against 2018. Along the way, the university has set several sub-goals:

• 30 per cent lower energy use
• 50 per cent lower emissions from travel
• a systematic reduction in emissions from the purchase of furniture, IT equipment and building materials

UiB is also building its own renewable energy, with plans for around 11,000 solar panels on campus and an annual production of two to three gigawatt hours. For its outdoor areas, the goal is to protect biodiversity and carbon stores, restore areas in poor condition, and introduce nature accounting with annual reporting.

The goals are matched by concrete measures across the university's operations:

• Buildings and energy: solar panels, heat pumps and smart building control, environmental certification (BREEAM-NOR) of new buildings, and deep renovation of existing ones. After its 2023 renovation, the Nygårdsgaten 5 building uses around half as much energy as before.
• Procurement: a dedicated procurement strategy aimed at lower and more environment-friendly consumption, reuse of furniture and longer life for IT equipment.
• Waste and reuse: source separation, recycling and reuse of IT equipment, and student-led measures such as the Byttebua swap shop.
• Travel and mobility: a mobility plan for 2024–2026, a travel policy that reduces flights, and status as a cycle-friendly university.

UiB manages its outdoor areas as part of its climate and nature work. A dedicated green committee, set up in 2025, follows up the work of protecting biodiversity and carbon stores on campus, restoring areas in poor condition and connecting green and blue corridors. New buildings are planned to be nature-positive, including solar roofs that also make room for nature. The goal is management plans for all outdoor areas and a nature accounting system with a fixed baseline year and annual reporting.

UiB has its own climate fund that awards money each year to climate and environmental projects from students and staff. The fund was set up in 2020 and awards around two million kroner a year, with up to 300,000 kroner per applicant. It supports environment-friendly transport and events, the circular economy and innovative ideas, and gives dedicated grants to students writing a green master's thesis. Both students and staff can apply. Contact klima2030@uib.no to learn more about the fund and its application deadlines.

UiB measures and reports its climate and environmental work openly. The university has published climate accounts every year since 2018, set up according to the international GHG Protocol with emissions in scope 1, 2 and 3. In 2024, the total climate footprint was 40,809 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, down from 50,153 tonnes in 2018. By far the largest share of emissions sits in scope 3 – especially the purchase of goods and services, and travel.

UiB was the first university in Norway to be certified as an Eco-Lighthouse (Miljøfyrtårn), in 2016, and was named Eco-Lighthouse of the Year 2025 for targeted and comprehensive environmental work over time. The steering group for climate work reports to the University Board every year.