“It felt amazing to win. We worked really hard and had great teamwork, so it was incredibly rewarding to see it pay off,” says Sophie Stoltz Halvorsen.
The students, all in their first year of the MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, were selected as winners of the semiannual BI Opinion Essay Competition, organized by the BI Centre for Sustainability and Energy as part of the master’s course Ethics and Sustainability in Organizations.
Green isn’t always clean
This semester’s students were asked to reflect on the theme: Inequality – what is the problem and how to deal with it? Ruben, Sophie, and Emma responded with a critical analysis of Norway’s electric vehicle (EV) policy, arguing that the transition to EVs, while environmentally motivated, perpetuates inequality through global supply chains and domestic incentives.
Their essay highlights how emissions are not eliminated but relocated, often to countries with weaker labor protections and environmental standards.
“On paper, Norway looks very green. But the emissions are simply moved abroad, creating inequality on a global scale,” says Emma.
They also point out that public subsidies for EVs tend to benefit wealthier consumers, while those who can’t afford electric cars miss out on support for alternatives like public transport. Another key insight was the lack of transparency in EV supply chains.
The students were also struck by the data on carbon footprints. Seeing the environmental cost of battery production firsthand made the issue more tangible.
“It was eye-opening to see the actual numbers,” says Ruben.
A platform for active citizenship
Professor Caroline Dale Ditlev-Simonsen, who organizes the competition each semester, sees it as a way to deepen students’ understanding of sustainability and its societal dimensions.
“The competition pushes students to apply theory, reflect critically on sustainability, and take a personal stance — helping them connect academic insight with real-world impact and prepare for responsible leadership,” says Ditlev-Simonsen.
Linn M. Dybdahl, senior sustainability advisor at NMBU and jury member, emphasizes the broader importance of the initiative:
“In a media landscape increasingly suffering from misinformation and fake news, inspiring students to communicate research-based knowledge and participate in the public debate is very important. This competition is a great example of how a university course can train valuable skills that support active citizenship,” states Dybdahl.
About the jury
The jury of the BI Opinion Essay Competition includes:
Wenche Nielsen (Head of Strategic Planning and Integration, BI)
Linn Dybdahl (Senior Adviser, NMBU)
Caroline D. Ditlev-Simonsen (Professor, BI)
Read the winning essay here: Can Norway Drive Green Without Guilt?