3 Climate and environment

3.1 The objectives for environmental protection in Svalbard

The preservation of Svalbard’s unique natural wilderness is one of the key elements of Svalbard policy, and has long been one of the overriding objectives since they were first enunciated in Report to the Storting (white paper) No. 40 (1985–86) Svalbard. Svalbard has an internationally significant and valuable natural and cultural heritage that Norway has a special responsibility to preserve. This has been emphasised in the three previous white papers on Svalbard and through the Storting’s consideration of these reports. This policy remains fixed. In addition to the overriding goal of preserving Svalbard’s unique natural wilderness, more detailed objectives have been set for environmental protection in Svalbard. With some minor adjustments, the objectives are the same as those endorsed by the Storting in its consideration of Report to the Storting (white paper) No. 9 (1999–2000) Svalbard (Draft Resolution No. 196 (1999–2000)).

These objectives are as follows:

• On the basis of its internationally significant natural and cultural heritage, Svalbard shall be one of the world’s best-managed wilderness areas.

• Within the framework set by the Treaty and considerations of sovereignty, environmental considerations shall prevail in the event of conflicts between environmental protection and other interests.

• The extent of wilderness areas shall be maintained.

• Flora, fauna and cultural heritage sites that warrant protection shall be preserved virtually untouched, and natural ecological processes and biodiversity shall be allowed to evolve virtually undisturbed by local activity in Svalbard.

• There shall be large and essentially pristine nature areas in Svalbard that meet the need for reference areas for climate and environmental research.

• The possibility to experience Svalbard’s natural environment undisturbed by motorised traffic and noise shall be ensured, including areas that are easily accessible from the inhabited locations.

These objectives set the frameworks for all activities in Svalbard.

Today, Svalbard is one of Europe’s last remaining large wilderness areas. The vast majority of the archipelago is free of major encroachment into the natural environment, and the flora and fauna are largely intact. Svalbard is a unique nature area both in a European context and in the Arctic region at large. Here, the cold Arctic Ocean meets the warm waters of the Atlantic in an area with islands, fjords and large, relatively shallow waters that are covered in ice and drift ice for parts of the year. These conditions produce a wide variety of ocean, coastal and terrestrial habitats. This results in higher biological production and a richer fauna than anywhere else this far north. Svalbard’s wildlife includes Arctic mammals such as polar bears, Svalbard reindeer, walrus and various whale species. Svalbard and the Barents Sea have one of the world’s highest densities of seabirds, with around 20 million seabirds in summer. Svalbard is also home to some bird species that do not nest anywhere else in Europe.

There is also a unique cultural heritage following many countries’ activities in Svalbard and the surrounding waters for more than 400 years.

Svalbard’s nature is more accessible than any other High Arctic region. Nowhere else so far north is the sea ice-free for so much of the year. At the same time, the distance to mainland Europe is relatively short. Svalbard also has a unique infrastructure that contributes to making the area accessible. Svalbard’s pristine nature is an important source of knowledge of climate change and the environment.

Today, climate change and activity on and around the archipelago are putting pressure on the objective of preserving Svalbard’s unique natural wilderness.

3.2 Climate change

Nowhere in the world is warming as fast as Svalbard, where temperatures are rising five to seven times faster than the global average.1 In Longyearbyen, the annual temperature has increased by almost 5°C since 1971, and the winter temperature by almost 8°C. Precipitation has increased by almost 20 per cent in the same period. Since satellite measurements began in 1979, there has been a loss of sea ice around Svalbard in April and September of 9.8 per cent and 17.7 per cent per decade, respectively. Parts of Svalbard can expect an increase in average annual temperature of 7–10°C and an increase in annual precipitation of 45–65 per cent by the year 2100.

The consequences of climate change include significant loss of glacial mass, strong warming and permafrost thaw, which increases the risk of erosion, the likelihood of landslides and a decrease in sea ice.

Climate change is by far the most significant anthropogenic impact on species and ecosystems in Svalbard, both on land and at sea. The habitats of many species have already been altered, particularly for species that depend on ice such as ringed seals and polar bears. Many former tidewater glaciers have retreated so far that the glacier termini are now on land. This is problematic for seabirds and seals, for whom these glacier front areas are important feeding areas during the summer. The west coast of Svalbard has warmer waters and the seasons with fjord ice cover have become shorter. There is still considerable winter sea ice on the east side of Svalbard. An increasingly warmer climate will put further pressure on many of the species and their habitats in Svalbard. At the same time, new species are establishing themselves as a result of these changes. On Bjørnøya, for example, northern gannets have established a breeding colony, and in the fjords of West Spitsbergen, harbour seals, cod and haddock have become more common.

Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute

Svalbard is exposed to long-range transport of environmental contaminants through air and ocean currents. Most of the environmental contaminants found in the Arctic are long-range transported. Although the levels of several environmental contaminants have decreased in the Arctic, they remain high in polar bears, ivory gulls, glaucous gulls, northern fulmars and many other species. Climate change involving rising temperatures is expected to increase the spread of environmental contaminants, globally. Melting sea ice and permafrost thaw can cause remobilisation and evaporation of environmental contaminants to the Arctic atmosphere.

In Svalbard, the main challenge is to ensure that the objective of preserving Svalbard’s unique natural wilderness is maintained at a time when climate change, in conjunction with activity and traffic, is putting pressure on wilderness areas. In order to achieve the environmental objectives in Svalbard, it is important to limit the impact of local activity.

3.3 Increased activity

Traffic in Svalbard has increased, posing a challenge to achieving the environmental objectives. Tourism has expanded to new areas and sea-based tourism has in recent years extended its season. Much of the increased activity has taken place within nature reserves and national parks. This entails a greater potential for the disturbance of wildlife and the degradation of nature and cultural heritage sites, especially in coastal areas. There is also the risk of shipping accidents and acute pollution. Many species and areas are also becoming more vulnerable to disturbance from local activity as a result of climate change. Climate change, in conjunction with increased traffic, has led to a greater overall strain on flora and fauna.

3.4 Policy instruments

The Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and accompanying regulations are the most important policy instruments for achieving the environmental objectives for Svalbard. The purpose of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act is to maintain a virtually pristine environment. Within this framework, the Act allows for environmentally responsible settlement, research and business operations. The Act sets the framework for all activities and land use that may impact the environment. The Svalbard Environmental Protection Act contains provisions on area protection, flora, fauna, cultural heritage sites, land-use planning in the local communities, encroachment into the natural environment, traffic and pollution and waste. In the land-use planning areas, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and accompanying regulations define the framework for land-use planning and activity that may impact the environment. Within the protected areas, the protection regulations have their own provisions to safeguard the protection purpose.

The protected areas in Svalbard cover 68 per cent of the land areas and 88 per cent of the territorial sea, and are important for the preservation of the natural wilderness. In 2021, the protected area around the Van Mijenfjord was expanded by almost 3,000 square kilometres. Van Mijenfjorden is an important habitat for ringed seals and polar bears, and one of the aims of protection is to safeguard important habitats for species that are dependent on ice. A small area around Svea is not included in the expansion of the national park.

Map: Anders Skoglund, Norwegian Polar Institute

Management plans have been drawn up for the nature reserves in East Svalbard, Bjørnøya and Hopen. Work on management plans for the national parks, nature reserves for birds on the west side of Spitsbergen and the Isfjorden area was put on hold in 2020 pending other regulatory work. Amendments to the protection regulations were adopted in February 2024 and will enter into force on 1 January 2025. Work on drawing up management plans will be resumed in order to clarify the content of the protection regulations, so that activities and traffic are in accordance with the purpose of protection. The Government will also consider preparing an overall strategy for traffic in the Isfjord area, including both protected and unprotected areas, in order to ensure that the activity takes place in line with environmental objectives and legislation.

A general heavy fuel oil ban has been introduced in the territorial sea around Svalbard, effective from 2022. Shipping accidents involving oil spills are considered one of the greatest threats to Arctic ecosystems. Vast distances, challenging weather, ice and temperature conditions, as well as limited access to oil spill response resources, make oil spill preparedness difficult in Svalbard.

The current legislation, which aims to maintain a virtually pristine environment, provides a good starting point for addressing the current challenges. The Government will maintain the current protected areas. At the same time, it must be assessed whether the current protection provisions are sufficient to address the consequences of climate change and future activity.

3.5 Challenges

3.5.1 Preservation of wilderness

The natural wilderness in Svalbard is well preserved. With the exception of the areas around the local communities and the mining facilities, Svalbard is a large, contiguous wilderness area. The proportion of Svalbard’s land areas that are characterised by wilderness based on the definition of heavy infrastructure development used on the mainland is 96 per cent. Wilderness areas are areas located more than five kilometres great-circle distance from heavy infrastructure development. The corresponding figure for the mainland is 11.5 per cent.

The preservation of natural wilderness in Svalbard is the result of a long-term policy and effective measures. In protected areas, encroachment into the natural environment is generally not permitted. Section 56 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act stipulates that settlements and commercial activities shall, as a general rule, be located in the land-use planning areas.

For areas that are not protected, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act stipulates that a permit is required for activities that involve encroachment into the natural environment. The establishment of mining activities, for example, requires a permit under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and the possession of land does not entitle the owner to carry out encroachments into the natural environment in Svalbard. In areas that are not protected, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act provides for a restrictive practice in terms of permits and conditions for activities that encroach on the natural environment. For example, it is not expected that permits will be granted to establish new research stations or other major, permanent research infrastructure outside the planning areas.

Section 59 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act stipulates the requirement for environmental impact assessments for all activities that may have a more than an insignificant effect on the natural environment outside land-use planning areas. This means that when applying for test drilling for minerals, for example, the overall impact of the exploration activities on the environment, both in terms of scope and time, must be assessed. If, following such an assessment, the head of undertaking is granted a permit for test drilling for minerals, this does not automatically mean that a permit will later be granted to commence mineral extraction. This will be an independent assessment under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, which is based on the objective of preserving a virtually pristine environment and the objective of maintaining the extent of wilderness areas in Svalbard.

The Svalbard Environmental Protection Act stipulates that also inside the land-use planning areas new or expanded activities must safeguard considerations for the natural environment. For encroachments within or in the extension of established mining areas and local communities, strict conditions will be imposed to safeguard environmental considerations in the event of new or expanded activities.

The clean-up and restoration of nature after operations have ended is also important to maintain the scope of natural wilderness in the long term. When a permit was granted in 2011 for a new mine in Lunckefjell, it was subject to the condition that the affected area be returned to its original state after the end of operations. Emphasis was also placed on the fact that the period of operation would only last for five years before reversion, and that the encroachments were therefore of a temporary nature. Clean-up and reversion have now been successfully completed. Similar requirements must be expected if permits are to be granted for other expansions of existing mining sites or other activities that entail more extensive encroachments on nature. The clean-up in Svea is Norway’s largest nature restoration project to date.

3.5.2 Traffic

In Svalbard, approximately 10 per cent of the land area is covered by vegetation. Most types of vegetation in polar regions have a limited capacity for regrowth. Climate change is resulting in increased precipitation and permafrost thaw, which in turn makes the terrain more vulnerable. Traces of activity in the terrain can remain visible for many decades after use has ceased. Significant degradation has been documented at several frequently used landing sites for cruise ships, as well as older track damage from off-road driving several decades ago. There is currently no adequate overview of the status and development of terrain damage. In recent years, the Norwegian Polar Institute has been working on establishing a monitoring programme that will eventually provide the administration with more knowledge about the environmental impact of traffic.

The increase in tourism from 2012 to 2019, and in particular the increase in expedition cruise tourism, was considered a challenge for the environmental objectives and legislation. Regulatory work was therefore initiated, which has now been finalised. From 2025, new rules will apply to traffic under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and accompanying regulations.

Map: Anders Skoglund, Norwegian Polar Institute

In order to safeguard the overriding goal of preserving natural wilderness, there is still a need to consider measures to reduce the overall environmental impact of cruise operations. See section 6.6.

The use of snowmobiles is the most common form of transport during winter, and it is an attractive activity for the tourism industry. Permanent residents are permitted to drive snowmobiles in a broader range of areas than visitors, as the use of snowmobiles is important both for recreational activities and to be able to travel outside the local communities. Snowmobiles are also widely used in connection with research, monitoring and teaching.

Snowmobile traffic in Svalbard has increased. Wildlife is subject to greater disturbance today than when the existing legislation governing motorised traffic was drawn up in the early 2000s. In addition, climate change has altered the possibilities for motorised traffic. The Government will revise the Regulations relating to motorised traffic in light of changing natural conditions, traffic patterns and forms of traffic.

The peak season for snowmobile excursions coincides with the most vulnerable period for species that depend on ice. Ringed seals moult (give birth) and female polar bears venture out of the den with their cubs during this period in search of food. There are fewer ice-covered fjord areas on the west coast now than before. At the same time, the same areas are attractive destinations for snowmobile excursions. This increases the possibility of disturbing polar bears and seals. To prevent the disturbance of these species, the Governor of Svalbard has since 2018 laid down temporary traffic regulations pertaining to the sea ice in Billefjorden, Tempelfjorden and Rindersbukta in Van Mijenfjorden. From 1 January 2025, the traffic regulations will become permanent following an amendment to the Regulations relating to motorised traffic in Svalbard, and also encompass Van Keulenfjorden and Van Mijenfjorden, as well as Dicksonfjorden for visitors.

The Arctic is home to a number of marine species that use sound to communicate, navigate and search for food. Activities that produce underwater noise can affect these functions. However, there are major knowledge gaps regarding the effects of underwater noise. In 2022, the Norwegian Polar Institute conducted studies in Kongsfjorden and in the areas south of Kvitøya. The peak season for boat traffic in Kongsfjorden is from June to September. During this period, noise levels often exceed the internationally accepted acoustic thresholds for the disturbance of marine mammals. The Government recognises that there is a need to assess the impact of noise on life in the most heavily trafficked fjords of Svalbard, including Isfjorden and Kongsfjorden, and to consider the need for measures.

3.5.3 Species management

Harvesting

In principle, all fauna in Svalbard is protected under Section 25 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. However, harvesting, including hunting, trapping and gathering of eggs and down, is permitted to a limited extent, mainly by the local population. For the local population, opportunities for such limited harvesting are important for recreation and well-being. According to Section 5 of the Regulations of 24 June No. 712 relating to harvesting of the fauna on Svalbard, harvesting must not significantly alter the composition and development of the populations. There are set rules for which species may be harvested and during which periods.

Climate change affects many species, as do various diseases, parasites, pollution and marine litter. In order to ensure that harvesting does not impact populations, the Governor of Svalbard has in 2024 been tasked with creating a comprehensive strategy for managing harvestable species. Work has also been initiated on revising the legislation governing harvesting.

Photo: Tommy Dahl Markussen

The environmental objective that flora and fauna shall be preserved virtually untouched by activity in Svalbard also applies in the territorial sea. Bottom trawling is one of the local activities with the greatest impact on the marine environment. This is particularly true of benthic life, which is vulnerable in the waters around Svalbard. According to the protection regulations, shrimp trawling is permitted in all the major protected areas in waters with depths greater than 100 metres. The sea ice is now retreating, making new areas accessible and increasing the opportunities for bottom trawling. In areas that have rarely or never been trawled, shrimp trawling is currently not permitted under the regulations governing fisheries. However, it is possible to apply for a test-fishing permit. Strict requirements must be met in order for such an application to be granted, and then only at depths greater than 100 metres. Consequently, the threshold for granting authorisation is high. The authorities have not received any such applications to date. Furthermore, an applicant is not automatically entitled to a permit, even if the conditions are met. Furthermore, regular shrimp trawling at depths greater than 100 meters cannot be allowed without further consideration.

Alien species

Alien species are considered one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Alien species are species that are not endemic to Svalbard’s nature and that have arrived there by human activity. Species that occur naturally in the areas south of Svalbard and expand their range northwards as a result of climate change are not considered alien species, even though they may be new to Svalbard.

Several new species have been observed, partly as a result of a warmer climate and partly through the introduction of species. Rapid warming is weakening the climatic barrier against the spread of alien species from temperate regions. This increases the risk of such species gaining a foothold and spreading to Svalbard and in Arctic waters, where they risk displacing naturally occurring species. Under sections 26 and 27 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, a permit is required for the import, release and transport of flora, fauna and organisms that do not occur naturally in Svalbard.

In the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre’s Black List of alien species from 2023, 67 alien species are registered in Svalbard. An action plan against alien species in Svalbard has been drawn up, which the Governor of Svalbard is responsible for following up.

The Norwegian Polar Institute has been commissioned to update the state of knowledge about alien species in Svalbard. The need for measures will be assessed when new and updated knowledge is available.

3.5.4 Pollution and waste

No separate goals have been set for pollution in Svalbard. However, the following national goals apply:

• Pollution shall not harm health or the environment.

• The use and release of chemicals on the list of priority substances shall cease.

Currently, mercury, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, chlorinated pesticides and PFAS are among the environmental contaminants regarded as most problematic in the Arctic. In addition to long-range pollution, there are also local sources of pollution in Svalbard. Following the closure of the coal-fired power station in Longyearbyen and the closure of Mine 7 in 2025, these local sources of pollution will become less significant. Barentsburg still has coal mining operations and a coal-fired power station.

Permafrost has acted as a barrier to the spread of pollution. Increased permafrost thaw, increased coastal erosion and physical encroachments can lead to leaching and the spread of pollution. Former mining activities, landfills, the use of PFAS on firefighting training sites and other activities have contributed to the contamination of large parts of the ground in the planning areas. It is necessary to gain a better overall understanding of soil contamination in order to assess where there is contamination in the soil that poses a risk of harm to health and the environment, and where measures are needed. The planning areas will be prioritised first.

Large amounts of litter drift ashore every year. The fishing fleet in the Norwegian and Barents Seas appears to be the largest source of beach litter in Svalbard. Mammals, birds and fish risk getting caught in old lines, ghost nets and other litter. Such litter can kill them or cause them significant external injuries. Plastic fragments are ingested by seabirds, fish and whales. Plastics can damage internal organs and, in the worst case, kill the animals that ingest them. In addition to having a direct effect on animals, microplastics can act as dispersal and absorption pathways for environmental contaminants.

National and international efforts on measures to reduce marine litter from marine activities and fisheries are needed. Since the year 2000, the Governor of Svalbard has worked with the local population to clean up beach litter through organised beach clean-ups and on separate expeditions to limit the spread of litter. The expedition cruise industry has also contributed to cleaning up considerable amounts of marine litter. In addition, the Governor of Svalbard has drawn up a strategy to reduce marine litter in and around Svalbard. Further work will include a systematic assessment of such waste, and examining it in the context of knowledge regarding habitats for vulnerable species. Beach cleaning, both voluntary and professional, should be prioritised in these areas.

3.5.5 Land-use planning in the local communities

Increased activity in the local communities and their surrounding areas can affect the environment both within and outside the planning areas.

Chapter VI of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act regulates the planning of land use in the land-use planning areas. The purpose of the provisions is to ensure that development in the planning areas occurs in accordance with the objectives of the Act. Each planning area has a designated party responsible for land-use planning that, in addition to carrying out ongoing planning, shall ensure that the plan is adhered to and followed up. In Barentsburg, Pyramiden and Ny-Ålesund, the landowner is the party responsible for land-use planning. In Longyearbyen, the Longyearbyen Community Council has been delegated authority for land-use planning within the Longyearbyen planning area.

The local communities in Svalbard vary greatly in nature, and there are different types of land conflicts to be resolved. The planning system under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act is flexible, and allows for the details to be adapted according to the needs of the communities.

One of the main purposes of land-use planning is to provide instructions for where and how construction can take place. It is also important for the sake of predictability for residents in local communities. The land-use plan must be sufficiently detailed to provide a basis for subsequent planning and building decisions. For some areas it will be necessary to prepare separate sub-plans.

Textbox 3.2 Adventdalen

Adventdalen is considered one of the most important areas for waders and freshwater birds in Svalbard, and a total of 16 of Svalbard’s red-listed bird species are found here. A proposal for the protection of lower Adventdalen has been submitted for consultation.

Photo: Bjørn Lytskjold, Norwegian Polar Institute

Mine 7 is scheduled for closure in the summer of 2025. Any subsequent use of the mining area involving a change in land use must be based on the land-use plan for the Longyearbyen planning area.

In Barentsburg, the land-use plan from 2004 is being revised. A new planning programme was adopted in autumn 2015, and the party responsible for planning, Trust Arktikugol, has continued to work on updating the plan. Pyramiden had its first land-use plan adopted by the Governor of Svalbard in 2014, and activities at the site will take place within the framework of this land-use plan. Trust Arktikugol is the party responsible for planning in relation to Pyramiden.

At Sveagruva, the land-use plan was revised in 2012, and from 2017, clean-up efforts were carried out in accordance with the closure plans approved by the Governor of Svalbard. The clean-up project was completed in the autumn of 2023. In Ny-Ålesund, the work of reviewing the current land-use plan from 2009 is now being finalised.

The planning provisions in the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act have remained largely unchanged since 2002. Local communities in Svalbard have undergone major changes, particularly in terms of activity and land use in the planning areas. It is natural to consider whether the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act’s provisions on land-use planning meet the current needs in terms of land-use planning in Svalbard. The Government will initiate work to review the planning provisions in the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, aiming to organise, clarify and update the legislation.

3.5.6 Cultural environments

With its distinctive history, Svalbard has a unique and valuable cultural heritage. Traces from the earlier periods are fragile and vulnerable, and all cultural heritage sites dating from before 1946 are therefore automatically protected under Section 39 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. The cultural environments offer experiences and knowledge of polar history for both permanent residents and visitors, and are partly in active use.

The national objectives for cultural environment policy are anchored in Report to the Storting (white paper) No. 16 (2019–2020). In Svalbard, the goal is to safeguard the “100 most important cultural heritage sites” by way of active management. The national goal is followed up by carrying out prioritised measures and tasks in the Cultural Environment Plan for Svalbard.

Climate change in Svalbard and increasing traffic have a major impact on the cultural environment. Many of the cultural heritage sites are located on the coast, and retreating sea ice, more erosion, increased precipitation and permafrost thaw mean that more cultural heritage sites are at risk of being lost. It is necessary to clarify which cultural heritage sites should be preserved through active measures, and which should only be passively protected against encroachment or wear that can accelerate degradation. It is also necessary to consider climate adaptation measures and clarify how the administration should address the loss of cultural heritage sites, for example through documentation or emergency excavations.

The vast majority of the more than 300 automatically protected buildings in Svalbard are located on government-owned land. Those located outside the planning areas are mainly cabins and traces of various forms of human activity. In order to have an adequate overview of the condition and need for refurbishment, the Governor of Svalbard has been tasked with assessing and registering the condition of the state-owned cabins in Svalbard. The condition assessments will form the basis for future prioritisations under the Cultural Environment Plan.

Together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Governor of Svalbard established a two-year trial project in the spring of 2023 with the Center for Cultural Heritage Protection at Svalbard Museum. The goal is to bring together craftsmen to share their expertise and ensure a good quality of restoration and maintenance of cultural environments. At the same time, such a measure can contribute to cultivating the Governor of Svalbard’s role as the administrative authority on the subject.

Textbox 3.3 The consequences of climate change

The cultural environment and individual objects in Hiorthhamn are exposed to a number of destructive forces that have, in part, dramatic effects on the cultural heritage sites and the environment. This includes soilfluction, changes in the active layer of the soil that thaws during the summer months, rot, coastal erosion and wear and tear caused by visitors. For the time being, only temporary measures have been taken in the form of relocating the forge and laying rocks on the most critically exposed side of the building. The manner in which the cultural environment in Hiorthhamn can be preserved is being assessed. In the background of this photo, the forge is being moved.

Photo: Edvard Undall, Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research

In Svalbard, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage is the cultural environment authority for automatically protected cultural heritage sites, and makes decisions on exemptions under Section 44 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. On the mainland, the county authority has been delegated the administration of most of the automatically protected cultural heritage sites.

The Government will delegate the Directorate for Cultural Heritage’s exemption authority for cultural heritage sites in Svalbard to the Governor of Svalbard. Delegation will contribute to cultivating the Governor of Svalbard’s role as the administrative authority and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage’s role as the specialised directorate, and it will reduce the distance between the applicant and the decision-making authority with shorter case processing times. The appeals and review authority will remain with the Directorate for Cultural Heritage.

3.5.7 Environmental management’s need for knowledge

Good and up-to-date knowledge about the state of the environment and possible development trends is essential for effective environmental management. Knowledge from environmental monitoring is the basis for assessing the extent to which the national environmental objectives for Svalbard are being achieved and whether the implemented environmental measures are having the desired effect. Long and continuous time series are important for monitoring changes in the environment and nature. They are also important for assessing whether management is in line with the environmental objectives for Svalbard, or whether there is a need for new measures and policy instruments.

There are still major knowledge gaps regarding climate and environment in Svalbard, and there is a need to strengthen the knowledge base. In general, there is a considerable need for better knowledge about the effects of climate change and how they interact with the environmental impact of local activities in Svalbard. Furthermore, there is a need for knowledge about the expected rapid future climate change and the environmental effects thereof. There is also a need for better monitoring of the effects of traffic on vegetation and wildlife, as well as underwater noise and its effects on wildlife. Furthermore, there is a need to further develop knowledge about endangered and vulnerable species and habitats in Svalbard, with an emphasis on marine habitats and habitats associated with sea ice. There is also a need to examine the development of ecosystems as a whole and not just individual species. Efforts are also being made to improve the environmental monitoring of cultural heritage sites. Environmental monitoring is necessary to obtain the knowledge that is important for the administration of Svalbard, and also as a basis for international processes and agreements on climate and the environment.

Environmental monitoring from the Zeppelin Observatory in Ny-Ålesund comprises long-range transboundary air pollution, heavy metals, organic environmental contaminants and chlorinated and fluorinated greenhouse gases. There is also significant monitoring of several animal populations in Svalbard, and environmental contaminants are also being monitored in several of these animals. This knowledge gathering is and will continue to be important in order to obtain an overview of how long-range pollution is added to and concentrated in the Arctic environment. Furthermore, it will contribute to understanding the impact of the pollution on exposed and vulnerable species in Svalbard, such as marine mammals and seabirds.

The Governor of Svalbard, Longyearbyen Community Council, Svalbard Museum and the Norwegian Polar Institute have jointly worked to establish a nature information centre. The nature information centre will communicate the values of the natural and cultural environment in Svalbard and can be a tourist attraction that will contribute to local value creation. The Government is working to establish a nature information centre as part of the Svalbard Museum in Longyearbyen.

3.6 Measures

The Government will:

• Safeguard the unique natural wilderness in Svalbard, continue the environmental objectives and the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act’s provisions and restrictive practice for authorisation of major encroachments into the natural environment outside the planning areas.

• Maintain current protected areas through management in line with the purpose of the protection. At the same time, it must be assessed whether the current protection provisions are sufficient to address the consequences of climate change and future activity.

• Continue work on management plans for the protected areas, so that traffic and activities take place in accordance with the protection purpose.

• Consider developing an overall strategy for traffic in the Isfjord area, including both protected and unprotected areas, so that activities take place in line with environmental objectives and legislation.

• Revise the Regulations relating to motorised traffic in light of changing natural conditions, traffic patterns and forms of traffic.

• Assess the impact of noise on life in the most heavily trafficked fjords in Svalbard, including Isfjorden and Kongsfjorden, and consider the need for measures.

• Implement the necessary changes to the legislation governing harvesting under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act.

• Update the knowledge base on alien species and consider new measures.

• Ensure that a comprehensive overview of soil contamination in Svalbard is prepared, giving priority to the planning areas.

• Ensure a systematic assessment of marine litter in Svalbard, and consider the areas with considerable amounts of marine litter in the context of knowledge about habitats of vulnerable species. Beach cleaning should be prioritised in these areas.

• Review the planning provisions in the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and propose possible amendments.

• Assess the condition of the State’s protected cabins in Svalbard as a basis for future prioritisation under the Cultural Environment Plan.

• Delegate the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage’s exemption authority for cultural heritage sites in Svalbard to the Governor of Svalbard.

• Strengthen the knowledge base for environmental management with an emphasis on monitoring the effects of climate change and traffic, and the impact this has on the natural environment, cultural heritage sites and wildlife.

• Strengthen communication and knowledge about the unique environmental values of Svalbard by working to establish a nature information centre as part of the Svalbard Museum in Longyearbyen.