NMBU is getting its very own Environmental Action Plan!
NMBU is getting its very own Environmental Action Plan!
It is the students of today that are going to solve the problems of tomorrow, and everything is pointing towards the climate crisis being the biggest of the future problems. To prepare students for this challenge, the university's job is to both inspire and ensure solid competence. With a goal of becoming Norway's leading university in climate and environment, NMBU will now prepare an environmental action plan.
Journalist: Nora Helgeland
Illustrator: Anne Trættberg Reitan
Translator: Vegard Sjaastad Hansen
Magnus Dybdahl is responsible for, among other things, the environment in the Student Board, and this autumn he has been involved in preparing the consultation input from the Student Parliament together with the Student Parliament's sustainability committee. Earlier this year, the Student Parliament adopted an environmental policy document, and he believes that it is therefore appropriate with an environmental action plan now. "Students want action and not just talk," says Dybdahl. Many of the Student Parliament's input is that they want to concretize the goals and set clear deadlines. Magnus hopes that this will lead to many more measures and that demands actually can be made. In addition, they have come up with proposals for new measures, such as that NMBU should not only have a climate account, but also a climate budget. Above all, the goal is to make a concrete plan for how to reduce the emissions from the university.
The Student Parliament wants NMBU to aim for the university to become climate neutral by 2022. To achieve this, even more investment must be made in renewable energy, and continue the work of completely cutting out fossil fuels. Some things are difficult to remove, such as the emissions from animal husbandry on Ås. That is why renewable energy is becoming even more important to offset unavoidable emissions. Magnus also states that sustainability should be implemented at all levels of the university. "There is a lot of important research related to the environment and climate at NMBU and it should seem more concrete." For example, if research is done on sustainable food, the food should come to SiÅs' canteen. Furthermore, he believes that it should be easier to understand how different study programs can affect the environment, and individual subjects should focus more on linking the knowledge to how to solve the climate crisis. In this way, students are made aware of how they themselves can make a difference in the future.
As a university, NMBU has long been concerned with the environment and climate, and over the years has initiated several measures. Among other things, climate accounts have been kept and solar panels installed on parts of the campus and Ås farm. Nevertheless, these measures have been characterized by coincidence and there has been little planning related to future measures. For this reason, a climate analysis was carried out in 2019, and based on this, the faculties were sent questionnaires with local and central climate and environmental measures. The results were the basis for the drafting of the proposal for the environmental action plan, which was sent for initial consideration in January 2020 but which was postponed until this autumn due to corona.
The deadline for submitting input was the last weekend in October, and the Student Board and many other organizations and committees have submitted proposals. All input will be considered by the Environmental Council. The Environmental Council shall provide professional advice to NMBU on how they can develop their environmental profile and other work regarding climate and the environment. This council consists of five academic staff and a student representative, who is currently Magnus Dybdahl. The Environmental Council shall prepare a proposal for an environmental action plan which will be sent to the management. During the semester, the principal will consider whether the environmental action plan should be approved or not. If it is approved, the work will begin after the New Year.
This is a matter that concerns all students, and even though the deadline for submitting input has expired, it is still possible to have your voice heard. The Student Board will be involved in the further design of the environmental action plan, and encourages everyone who wants to provide input to send an email to studenttinget@nmbu.no. In this way, YOU can also help to develop the future environmental profile of NMBU, and your own future!
If you are interested in reading more about the environmental action plan, you can visit NMBU's website.
Overall what the Environmental Action Plan is about
NMBU's most important contribution to a better environment is through education, research and information. We will be at the forefront of research internationally and educate candidates who are well equipped in the fight for a sustainable future. NMBU shall be climate neutral and create positive environmental effects through active land management. We must have the least possible impact on the environment. Environmental considerations shall at all stages be integrated into the operation of the business.