A good environmental budget

Presse release

Dato: 11.10.01

The Ministry of Environment's budget is to increase by 9.3 per cent in 2002. The government's objectives include more intensive research into CO2-free gas-power technology and work on PCBs. The latter will be intensified through preventive measures and attention to "sins of the past". The government is also aiming for progress in marine charting together with contingency planning in the oil sector. An additional priority will be stepped-up provisions for protecting cultural heritage.

• The Fiscal Budget 2002: Long-term, sustainable use of petroleum revenues

"I am very pleased with the environmental budget", says environment minister Siri Bjerke. "This enables us to focus on more high-priority areas. I am happy that the budget for 2002 makes this possible."

Climate

The government White Paper on its climate policy presented to parliament in June this year includes a plan for Norway to meet its commitments under the Kyoto protocol. The government is prepared to continue taxing CO2 until a national quota system has been introduced. The government also seeks agreements on emissions limitations with companies that are not currently subject to the CO2 tax. Such agreements will be designed to give the companies concerned the necessary flexibility. At the same time the agreements must ensure genuine emissions reductions.

Research and development of technology with low emissions is seen as especially important. The government proposes strengthening research into CO2-free gas-power technology so that the combined commitment of the Ministries of Environment and of Oil and Energy totals ca. NOK 35 million. In addition, the Ministry of Environment will earmark about NOK 43 million for other aspects of climate research and will support local climate action plans.

Biological diversity

Several ministries have allocated funds for follow-up of the government White Paper on biodiversity. In order to preserve biodiversity, a new knowledge-based management system has been launched. Funds for monitoring, mapping and follow-up measures are in the Ministry of Environment increased by NOK 9 million. The government also proposes to increase funding for implementation of the coniferous forest protection plan by NOK 40.6 million. At the same time, funding authorized for the protection of coniferous forests is increased by NOK 50.4 million. Progress in the national parks plan is to be secured through an increased authorisation for funding by NOK 16.6 million. Other government priorities are efforts to combat the salmon parasite Gyrodactilus salaris and to save the Arctic fox from extinction.

PCBs and other environmental toxins

The government assigns high priority to efforts to reduce the environmental and public health impacts of hazardous chemicals. A costly and technically challenging clean-up of severely polluted fjords and harbours will be one such priority. The government will return to the subject in more depth at a later stage, but for now proposes to increase funds allocated for this work by NOK 10 million in 2002. Investment in measures for cleansing polluted soil and sediments now totals more than NOK 30 million altogether. The increase is earmarked for gaining experience and developing new technological solutions. Cleansing of polluted seabeds must be approached in conjunction with new land-based pollution.

The government proposes a total increase NOK 10 million for measures restricting new releases of PCBs into the natural environment. In collaboration with the business sector arrangements will be made for a collection system for double-glazed window frames containing PCBs.

Enhancing protection of the coastline

The government proposes a series of measures to strengthen protection and improve contingency arrangements along the coast. The wrecks of the Sleipner in 1999 and of the Green Ålesund and John R last winter show that safety standards could be higher. This initiative is also in response to Russian plans for an increase in shipping along the Norwegian coast. The government proposes a total increase for this purpose of NOK 70 million altogether in 2002. This will cover increased investments in marine charting and oil contingency arrangements of NOK 20 and 15 million respectively.

Outdoor recreation

The Ministry of Environment is following-up the main challenges in the government White Paper on outdoor recreation with a proposal for increased funding in that area from ca. NOK 70 million to nearly NOK 90 million. This will go towards safeguarding public rights in common law, ensuring access for children and young people to the natural environment, and developing

outdoor recreational skills. The government also aims to further develop the outdoor recreation potential in beach areas and attractive neighbourhood sites, especially in cities and towns. The government proposes additionally to simplify hunting and fishing regulations; this

would include abolition of the government tax on freshwater fishing. Local authorities and voluntary organizations are central to such work, and the government sees much to be gained in supporting such bodies in their efforts to encourage the most widespread outdoor recreational activities.

On-going cultural initiatives

The government has strengthened public support for cultural heritage protection in the budgets for 2001 and 2002. At the same time the government seeks to promote collaboration between the public and private sectors. A grant of NOK 10 million for 2002 is earmarked for funding cultural heritage projects. The grant system was set up as a temporary three-year arrangement, in part to see how much private funding and voluntary participation it might stimulate.

Modernization of the PechengaNickel Combine

All the central agreements in connection with modernization of the PechengaNickel Combine have now been negotiated. Norway will contribute one third of the total project costs, beginning in 2001 with NOK 44.2 million, to be followed up in 2002 with NOK 171.2 million. The project is expected to result in 90-92 per cent reductions of the release of sulphur dioxide, particulates and heavy metals. This will lead to a substantial environmental improvement in Finnmark.

Urban development

The government sets great store by measures to promote environment-friendlyurban development. Funds are earmarked for environmentally degraded areas in cities, pilot projects and collaborative initiatives involving the public sector, the business community and voluntary organizations. Collaboration is particularly important in such areas as transport and district management, residential and local neighbourhood development, commercial development and the cultural environment. NOK 5 million in the Ministry of Environment's budget is allocated for improving the Groruddalen district; this will be a close collaboration with Oslo municipality. Other ministries have been allocating funds totalling NOK 20 million for environmental measures.

Local authority initiatives

Local authorities are to have greater responsibility, greater freedom and more resources to look after the local environment and to pursue national and global environmental goals, with state support. A new temporary grant system is proposed allocating NOK 5 million to help local authorities through a transition period as delegation of authority and responsibility takes effect from 2002. The national Arealis programme will also receive an increase of NOK 2 million.

National map

Through the establishment of "Norway digital" the Ministry of Environment will, among other things, create a national geographic digital infrastructure which also represents opportunities for the private sector. The government proposes to increase its stake in this project by NOK 8 million.

Contact

Ministry of Environment
P.O.B. 8013 Dep
0030 Oslo
www.miljo.no

Head of Information
Eva Nordvik
Tel.: +47 22 24 57 18
Mobile: +47 90 99 66 72

Information adviser
Karin Westrheim
Tel.: +47 22 24 57 09
Mobile: +47 90 12 54 71