The University of Bergen receives the award for targeted and comprehensive environmental management over time.
The University of Bergen has been awarded the Environmental Lighthouse of the Year 2025 award in the group and large enterprises category. The jury's justification highlights that UiB "has demonstrated targeted and comprehensive environmental management over time", and that the university's climate and environmental work is firmly anchored in top management and produces documentable results.
The award was presented by the CEO of Miljøfyrtårn, Ann-Kristin Ytreberg, to Vice-Rector Kjell-Morten Myhr and Assistant University Director Kari Fuglseth.
Recognition of long-term work
– UiB is a brilliant example of how a large company can work holistically with environmental management and sustainability. They contribute both directly and indirectly to the green transition in Norway, and they deserve an award for that, says Ytreberg.
On its website, Miljøfyrtårn describes the award as a competition that aims to highlight businesses that are leading the way and showing the way towards a greener and more sustainable future.
– An important confirmation
Rector Margareth Hagen is proud of the award and believes that the prize shows that UiB is successful in its environmental efforts.
– When UiB takes a leading position in the academic work on sustainability nationally, it also commits us to how we develop as an organization. We are therefore incredibly proud to be named Environmental Lighthouse of the Year 2025. The award is a recognition of both the institution and the important efforts that many employees have made over a long period of time, says Hagen.
First university with Environmental Lighthouse certification
In 2016, UiB became the first Norwegian university to be certified as an Environmental Lighthouse. Since then, the university has strengthened its work with a number of initiatives, including:
- energy efficiency through smart buildings, solar cells and heat pumps
- measures for more sustainable travel habits
- schemes such as Green Master and the Climate Fund, which stimulate research and idea development within the climate and environment
- better waste management and increased reuse of furniture and fixtures
– It is very gratifying to see that the work is yielding results and that the environmental impact is being reduced in several areas, says Hagen.
Putting action behind words
Ytreberg highlights UiB's comprehensive organization of climate work as an important reason why the university won the award.
– UiB is an impressive player in environmental management. In addition to being an Environmental Lighthouse, they have their own environmental coordinator, climate fund and a steering group for climate work. They really put action behind their words, she says.
Academic program before the award ceremony
Before the award ceremony, an academic program was held where employees and students presented various climate measures and research projects, including:
- Ove Botnevik, Helene Wiken and Steinar Sundberg from the joint administration on concrete climate measures
- PhD fellow Rebekka Frøystad about her research project at Folgefonna
- Johan Wilhelm Holmström Ulla about her master's thesis supported by Green Master
- Eva-Lena Nordmann about the certification work from My Green Lab at the Michael Sars Center