UiO leads the Centre's WP4 Solutions for sustainable development and transformative change, in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO).
This WP's main question is: How can we change the way we use land and manage nature in a more sustainable way, by developing and integrating new solutions? This question is broken into three tasks (4.1, 4.2, 4.3). Across all three, a key theme is updating and better using laws, regulations, planning tools, contracts, and economic instruments to steer land use in a more sustainable direction.
4.1 Reducing overall land-use pressure and supporting transformation
4.2 Sustainable nature use (agriculture, reindeer husbandry, forestry)
4.3 Nature conservation and restoration
Across all three tasks, the central legal themes are: Reforming planning and licensing systems to better protect nature and integrate scientific, economic, and local knowledge, while ensuring efficient administrative processes.
Strengthening and clarifying legal frameworks for:
- Nature restoration
- Ecological compensation
- Renewable energy and other measures needed for the green transition of society
Using economic and financial instruments in law to incentivize sustainable land use and internalize environmental costs.
Enhancing multi-level governance and contractual arrangements (e.g. growth agreements, regional planning) to manage trade-offs legitimately.
Formalizing participation and co-creation so that local communities, Indigenous groups, and other stakeholders have real influence.
Ensuring compliance with EU/EEA law, such as the Water Framework Directive, directives on renewable energy (RED II and RED III), requirements on environmental impact assessments and aligning national and local practice with these obligations.
