Environmental protection in Norway

Hi,

Environmental protection is a challenging issue for all the countries around the world. Would you say this issue is deemed of significance in Norway?

Is the country going green through initiatives like waste management and selective sorting programs, renewable energies, public transport, green awareness campaigns and so forth?

How do you personally commit to improve the environment in your daily life?

We would greatly appreciate if you could tell us more about the various local initiatives for sustainable development in Norway.

Many thanks in advance!

Kenjee

Most of the initiatives you mention are already implemented in Norway. Not everyone takes part because of the costs. For instance we have three bins, one for bio, one for paper and one for the "rest" ( clean plastic can be bagged and taken to the local recycling centre) and we recycle glass and metal separately. Our Norwegian neighbour has just the one bin on the grounds of costs.

Most plastic bottles and beer cans have "pant" ( a sort of refundable deposit ranging from 1 NOK to 2.50 NOK). So 99% of these things are recycled but it seems the teenage boys don't get the message until they get married!

On energy use the Norwegians have a Jekyll and Hyde approach. On the one hand, instead of the usual 100W light bulb they will use a 40W bulb but even though we are living on a very secure island ( no permanent connection to the mainland) each second / holiday home in the area has security lighting on each night regardless of occupancy. So literally, the lights are on but nobody is home. As an budding amateur astronomer I find this very frustrating because of all the light pollution.

Overall I would say Norwegians are quite aware environmentally but some are more aware than others.

Awareness through educating the People's