The Government's environmental policy and the environmental state of the nation

It is a pleasure to be able to take part in this presentation of the government's first White Paper on "The Government's environmental policy and the environmental state of the nation", which is to be published annually in connection with the national budget.

As its name implies, this report presents the collective developments in the field of environment, with an emphasis on the Norwegian situation, and the main points in the government's work in combating environmental problems. The aim of the White Paper is to give Parliament and society as a whole a comprehensive account of environmental policy: its goals, progress in achieving those goals, and steps the government proposes to take in pursuit of those goals. The report comprises a thorough exposition of the state of the environment in Norway and of environmental policy, and in so doing also stands as a concrete example of our follow-up to the ambitious environmental policy objectives of the Voksenåsen Declaration.

The reasons for environmental problems are complex: increased production and increased consumption, both in the richer part of the world and in the developing countries, are the most important. New environment-friendly technology can offset this to some extent, but not enough. In order to make room for the necessary improvements in the welfare of the poor countries, we in the rich countries must be prepared to change our patterns of consumption. The natural foundation of our planet cannot tolerate a continuation of consumption in the rich world at the same rate, at the same time that the developing countries are raising their standard of living.

We must become less dependent on scarce natural resources and produce less waste. Renewable energy must gradually replace non-renewable energy. Even if we do not have all the answers today, I think it is our desire for change above all that will determine whether we succeed. International cooperation on environment is crucial, not only to improve the global environment but also to protect Norway from pollution emissions from other countries. We intend to strengthen our international collaborative work and to strive for ambitious and legally binding agreements. In order to ensure broad participation and effective follow-up of global agreements, and environmental improvements at local level, Norway's contribution to the developing countries will involve building up expertise, technology transfer and economic support. We shall also strengthen our regional environmental cooperation, with a particular focus on the serious environmental problems in Russia.

The government's environmental policy is based on independent responsibility -- on the part of individuals, business enterprises, the public sector and other organizations -- for taking environmental issues into account. In the government, all ministries must take responsibility for environmental developments in their areas. Four ministries have now issued action plans for environmental improvements in their sectors: Fisheries, Transport, Petroleum and energy, and Defence. Four new action plans for a better environment will be issued by next year. But individuals and local communities must also play their part. The government therefore sets great store by ensuring public access to environmental information, and works for local commitment to and participation in environmental work.

The government has taken numerous initiatives and implemented many important projects. We have led the way in negotiating successfully several international agreements, e.g. in chemicals, climate and long-range air pollution. At national level, I would mention in particular:

• We have proposed several new environmental tax levies, combined with tax relief in other areas, as a follow-up to the proposals of the "Green Tax Commission"
• We have stepped up our efforts in the field of renewable energy sources, most recently in connection with the national budget for the year 2000
• We have increased our commitment to public transport, particularly rail travel
• We have published an action plan and implemented a series of initiatives to reduce emissions and use of chemicals
• We have been the first country in the world to ban gene modified agricultural crops coded for antibiotic resistance
• We have stepped up environmental monitoring and implemented a number of initiatives for improving environmental information to the public
• We have started up work with Local Agenda 21 as a means for local authorities to come to grips with the concept of sustainable development in the broadest sense.

The report on the government's environmental policy and the environmental state of the nation will, as I have said, be published annually. In some years the report will be able to present a more detailed discussion of one or several environmental policy themes. This year's report contains a separate discussion of the wild salmon population and of policy on waste.

The report also contains proposals for new, ambitious national targets in a number of areas, a subject the Minister of Environment will look at more closely.

With this report, we hope to provoke a comprehensive discussion and debate on environmental policy in the parliament. As a sound basis for parliamentary discussion of aspects of the national budget relevant to environmental issues, future reports will also be published in connection with the national budget. I am well satisfied that with this report we have succeeded in presenting accurately the state of the environment in Norway while staking out our course, and our ambitions, for environmental policy in the future.