Start the day in the church pews!

In our regular programme fixture «today's sermon» we invite dedicated professionals up on the pulpit to present a challenge within the 2026 Triennale's title question – "What if Nature Comes First?" – and a solution. Drop by the Sofienberg Church in the morning hours and start the day with church coffee and a short lecture.

This morning we meet Thomas Røkås from Alm – centre for economical politics, who will hold the sermon "What if Economy had to Adapt to Nature?". In today's economy nature is treated as if it were inexhaustible. Economic growth and other societal goals are considered more important than protecting nature. What must be changed for nature to come first? Departing from ecological economics, degrowth and post-growth, Thomas Røkås points at the need for an economical awakening, and suggests new premises for an economy that promotes high life quality within the planetary boundaries.

The sermon is a warm-up to the seminar Natur og økonomi that starts at 09 AM.

Thomas Røkås works as an adviser in Alm Centre for Economical Politics. He has a Master's degree in International Environmental Studies from NMBU, where he is also a guest lecturer in ecological economics and degrowth. Røkås has led Rethinking Economics Norge, worked with sustainable finance in Eika Gruppen and has the last years contributed to the establishment of several post growth organisations and networks.

The doors open and the coffee is ready from 08 PM. Today's sermon starts at 08:15.