DeCrises joined Arendalsuka 2026
On 11 August 2026, as part of the DeCrises project, the Western Norway Research Institute (WNRI) hosted a debate at Arendalsuka, a political public event in Norway.
This debate focused on how Norway can ensure that the green and digital transitions benefit all workers and brought together representatives from academia, industry, labor organizations, and policymaking. The central question was how Norway can achieve its ambitious climate and digitalization goals without leaving workers behind.
As a main response, participants emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, reskilling, and shared responsibility among governments, employers, educational institutions, and other stakeholders.
The main conclusions that emerged were the following:
- Social sustainability needs greater attention. Organizations often have different interpretations of diversity, inclusion, and social sustainability, making collaboration more difficult. A shared understanding would strengthen both local initiatives and regional cooperation.
- Broad stakeholder involvement is essential. Engaging communities, unions, public authorities, and employers early in transition processes improves legitimacy, inclusiveness, and long-term success.
- Education and industry should collaborate more closely. Educational institutions should focus on critical thinking and societal understanding, while practical and job-specific training should increasingly take place in workplaces.
- People must remain at the center of the transition. Successful industrial transformation depends not only on technology and resources but also on worker participation, trust, knowledge sharing, shared values, and effective communication.
At the end of this discussion, all participants highlighted the need for coordinated and people-centered policies to ensure that the benefits of the twin transition are shared across society.
Read more about this debate here.
