NMBU
About Towards
TOWARDS is a think tank to support the transformation of cities and communities towards socially just and sustainable futures.
Complex global challenges such as climate change, COVID-19 and rapid urbanisation bring into focus the deeper health and well-being dimensions of sustainable development, including social belonging, everyday interactions, and the environmental quality of local surroundings.
Rising polarization, crises of legitimacy and social inequalities highlight the ethical and equity dilemmas inherent in any practical solutions aimed at sustainability transformations.
Goals
TOWARDS fosters interdisciplinary co-learning regarding transformations towards sustainable development in cities and settlements. It does this through:
- Piloting experiments with green technologies and nature based solutions in people’s lived environments
- Examining equity and ethical dilemmas in best practices for promoting health, well-being and environmental qualities of local communities
- Exploring new modes of policy and planning required to govern sustainability transformations
Through these experiments and analyses, we bring into dialogue the development contradictions and dilemmas inherent in sustainability transformations across disciplines.
Innovating to support local transformations also requires transforming how we conduct research and teach, including a closer integration between research, education and public engagement. For this purpose, TOWARDS serves as a thinktank that opens up space for deliberation between researchers, students, civil society and public and private sectors actors.
Center for Climate Resilient Development – CRED
The Center for Climate-Resilient Developemnt (CRED) is a collaboration between NMBU, the Follo region, politicians, businesses, and civil society in the Oslofjord area, with the goal of creating local solutions to climate challenges.
CRED is an initative developed under TOWARDS.
Go to CRED's webpage hereInterdisciplinary Masterproject - Lillestrøm
TOWARDS organizes an interdisciplinary Masterproject in 2023 to gain greater insight into the breadth of sustainability challenges across disciplines.
The masterclass explores transformation, covering master theses (individual or in group) that address sustainability challenges within the themes of green technologies, social justice and health and lived environments.
For more information, contact ingrid.odegard@nmbu.no
International Master Course: Disability, Social Justice and Climate-Resilient Development
The Master's course (FHV341), a collaboration with the University of Exeter and Makerere University, offers novel opportunities for interactive, cross-cultural student learning and collaboration, alongside lectures by international expert scholars in the fields of climate justice, transformative and place-based adaptation, climate resilient development, wellbeing, and disability.
The course is open for all Master Students and will be conducted entirely in English.
Participants
News
The Road Ahead After TOWARDS: Insights from Four Years of Sustainable Collaboration
On May 20, 2025, NMBU brought together researchers, students, and community stakeholders for an inspiring closing seminar for TOWARDS, the university’s sustainability arena for sustainable cities and communities. After four years of interdisciplinary exploration and collaboration, the day was both a celebration and an important knowledge workshop for the road ahead.
Read about the road ahead here (Norwegian)
TOWARDS Master’s Stipend 2024
An overview of all stipend recipient’s master theses
As part of the TOWARDS Sustainability Arena’s mission to support innovative, interdisciplinary research, the 2024 TOWARDS master stipends were awarded to students whose theses address key sustainability challenges.
Read the summaries from the master theses here
Music video: Climate Resilient Development – A Musical and Scientific Journey
Article: If interdisciplinarity is the goal, what are the means?
Interdisciplinarity is necessary to solve society's complex challenges. But when academia is largely organized into distinct disciplines and structures do not facilitate interdisciplinarity, how can we encourage more collaboration across fields?
Read the article here (Norwegian)
The IPBES NEXUS Report was launched on December 17th
With contributions from TOWARDS members Siri Eriksen and Frode Degvold, the report highlights how climate change and biodiversity loss are mutually reinforcing crises with significant negative impacts on health, water resources, and food security. The report identifies 71 concrete actions to promote integrated progress across sectors and outlines the necessary changes in financial, economic, and governance systems to ensure a sustainable and just future.
Find the report here
Siri Eriksen and Frode Degvold with article in Nature climate change
Read the paper hereSiri about COP29: "NMBU Researchers on Climate Financing: – Far From Enough" Read the article here (Norwegian)
Are area neutrality and ecological compensation the path toward sustainable land management?
In collaboration with the Follo region, TOWARDS and KRED held a policy dialogue on area neutrality and ecological compensation, gathering experts to discuss challenges, solutions, and legal frameworks.
Read about it here
Center for Climate Resilient Development – CRED
The Center for Climate-Resilient Developemnt (CRED) is a collaboration between NMBU, the Follo region, politicians, businesses, and civil society in the Oslofjord area, with the goal of creating local solutions to climate challenges.
Read about CRED here
New TOWARDS Policy Brief
Jelle Philippus Ronaldus Buijs - former NMBU Master student - writes about his research on the lived experiences of protesters and how it can lead to a better understanding of the personal sphere of transformations.
Read the brief here
NMBU podcast
New Report by the IPCC
Climate Adaptation Is Happening Too Slowly - PRIO blog
Events
2025
3AprThursday lunch: How is life for refugees in the Norwegian asylum system?
TOWARDS intern Linh organized a Thursday lunch at the Sustainability hub where Joseph Ceville from Caritas told us more about how refugees are recieved in the Norwegians asylum system.
20MayTOWARDS - a sustainability journey
TOWARDS final seminar at Vitenparken. Where we shared research and insight from four years of activities.
2024
17Jan2-Day Writing Workshop in Son
In January, TOWARDS held a two-day meeting at Son Hotel, where we worked on a joint application. Ten of us braved the snowstorm and gathered in Son.
On the first day, we had an insightful workshop facilitated by cChange. On the second day, we made great progress on the joint application.22JanStormwater Management and Nature-Based Solutions
In an increasingly wild and wet climate, stormwater challenges are affecting more and more people. In Drøbak, with its steep slopes and old buildings, this has become a growing problem.
The Preservation Association of Old Drøbak invited several experts to present and discuss the topic. Among them were Associate Professors Line Rosef and Ingrid Ødegård from NMBU and TOWARDS, who gave a talk on nature-based solutions for stormwater management.
The event was free, and around 70 people attended – including representatives from political parties, various organizations, and individuals.23JanLoss & Damage Seminar
At COP28, significant funding was pledged to support countries most affected by climate change in dealing with irreversible consequences. However, there is still disagreement about what actually constitutes “loss and damage.”
TOWARDS, in collaboration with C-Hub, hosted a seminar on this topic in January at the House of Literature in Oslo. The goal was to shed light on ongoing debates and provide insight into issues related to climate-related loss and damage.13FebSchool Visit from Greåker Upper Secondary School
In February, NMBU welcomed two classes from Greåker Upper Secondary School. The students wanted to learn more about interdisciplinary research related to sustainability issues.
We put together a program with presentations from several sustainability initiatives at NMBU. Contributions included a case from the SDG300 course presented by Paule Bhérer-Breton, SmartPlast by Tina Tuveng, Urban Lab by Victor Talgø Syvertsen, NewsRoom by Riya Pankaj Dani, and TOWARDS by Siri Eriksen. Student ambassadors gave the students a campus tour, and they visited both Vitenparken and the Centre for Livestock Experiments. Around 60 students participated.14FebClimate-Resilient Planning Workshop with the Follo Region
The Climate and Energy Network in Follo and the TOWARDS Sustainability Arena invited participants to a workshop to mark the beginning of a broad collaboration between theory and practice, research and municipal initiatives in Follo.
The workshop was opened by Simon Oxholm Roy, Climate Coordinator in the Climate and Energy Network in Follo.19MarWorkshop in Laikipia County, Kenya
On March 19, researchers from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) hosted a policy dialogue on climate-resilient development in Laikipia County in Nanyuki, Kenya.
NMBU and JOOUST have collaborated on research in Northern Laikipia since 2017, with a particular focus on the area around the Mukogodo Forest.18AprLunch Seminar with Carin Smaller
Thursday lunch at the Sustainability Hub: How can research more effectively influence key political decisions on food security and climate, to help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger – by 2030?
8MayExperiences from Field Course in Uganda
Students from the course FHV341 shared their experiences from the course and study trip to Uganda, showcasing photos and videos from the journey.
6JunSite Visit Along Hovinbekken
Hovinbekken in Oslo is a great example of how nature-based solutions can be integrated into urban development. The reopened stream is intended not only to manage heavy rainfall but also to support biodiversity and improve quality of life for the local community.
On June 6, TOWARDS had the opportunity to visit Hovinbekken together with the research group FUGE.18JunLaunch of Plantevalg.no
22AugTOWARDS Summer Seminar at Breivoll
TOWARDS hosted a half-day seminar at Breivoll Farm to share recent work and discuss the way forward for the initiative.
13SeptPolicy Dialogue on Land Neutrality
In collaboration with the Follo region, TOWARDS and KRED organized a policy dialogue on land neutrality and ecological compensation. The dialogue brought together several experts to discuss challenges, solutions, and the legal framework related to these topics.
Speakers included Jin Xue, Håvard Bergheim, Anders Gunnar Helle, and Mina Di Marino – all researchers at NMBU – as well as Ane Tingstad Grav and Hanna Utseth from the Follo region.
Land neutrality has become an increasingly important topic in Norwegian urban and regional planning in recent years. With growing pressure on natural resources, it is crucial to find a balance between development and conservation of natural areas.1OctConflict, Democracy and Climate Change
Elise Remling from the University of Canberra and Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung from the University of Massachusetts (USA) presented their recent work. The presentation was followed by a discussion.
10OctPlantevalg.no Workshop
Plantevalg held a workshop on edible plants at BIT in Ås. Both students and staff from BIOVIT and LANDSAM were represented, along with staff from Vitenparken and professionals from the industry through FAGUS – including landscape architects, gardeners, and horticulturists from Oslo Municipality.
5NovSustainability Festival
On November 5, students in the EDS355 course organized their third annual sustainability festival at the NMBU library.
This year’s festival featured events organized by the students, focusing on climate-resilient development in both local and global contexts.
2023
2022
13OctOpen Seminar - Global Goal on Adaptation
What do Norwegian and international experts envision for the global goal on adaptation? How will climate change adaptation be addressed at COP27?
On October 13th, C-Hub (Learning Hub for Climate Change Adaptation in Development) invites you to an open seminar discussing the "Global Goal on Adaptation", one of the important topics at COP27. The seminar will consist of short presentations from Norwegian and international experts followed by an open discussion.
2021
17NovDigitalt Seminar - Guest Speaker Carin Smaller: Lessons Learned from Ceres2030
The Ceres2030 research studies sustainable solutions to eradicate hunger, double the incomes of smallholders, and reduce agriculture´s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. GIZ and the European Commission requested to conduct a country level version of the study that integrates resilience and healthy diets for Ethiopia, Malawi and Nigeria. Carin Smaller will present the main lessons learned from this study, suggesting how different levels can strengthen their efforts to eradicate Hunger.
9DecDigitalt Seminar - Sustainability and Justice: Linking social and environmental limits
NMBU's new Sustainability Arenas and C-Hub network invite you to explore the social and environmental limits to adaptation and sustainability. Join Cornell University's Rachel Bezner Kerr and some of our in-house sustainability experts and students for speed-talks and discussions. 9 December online.
We kick off with a short introduction to the Sustainability Arenas. With Erik Gómez-Baggethun, we explore the dilemma of how meeting human needs within planetary boundaries is a central idea of sustainability, yet formal recognition of limits contrasts with the promotion of unlimited economic expansion in policy and prevailing consumerist lifestyles.
Siri Eriksen will then take us through some key ideas underpinning how local transformation of cities and communities towards socially just and sustainable futures can take place in the face of global challenges.
Four of our students then take the floor in speed-talks that present their personal missions/projects that pursue sustainability and its social and environmental limits.
Following is an introduction to the Learning Hub for Climate Change Adaptation in Development (C-Hub) and a discussion of the linkages between the limits to adaptation and planetary boundaries. Cornell University's Rachel Bezner Kerr will present recent collaboration with NMBU on the limits to adaptation in food systems, and how the space for sustainable forms of adaptation is shaped both by societal processes and climate change.