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 Main focus: Transport, energy and climateDue to its growth, its use of resources and the pollution it causes, transport constitutes a huge environmental challenge. If Norwegian transport policies are to become more environmentally sustainable, then transport based on non-renewable resources inevitably has to be reduced. Friends of the Earth Norway takes part in the government's "Green Tax Commission". Our ambition is to contribute to the development of a greener tax system. Our active role in introducing the CO2 tax on air transport is a concrete example of our work in this area. On a local level we work to reduce the environmental impact and to repair damage connected to the construction of the new, main airport at Gardermoen outside Oslo. In cooperation with our local groups, Friends of the Earth Norway plays the role of watchdog and also as prime mover for environmental methods and "green" solutions. As far as road traffic is concerned, we keep a critical eye on environmental assessment analyses of proposed road projects. We try to develop and maintain competence in this field to support our local groups and make it easier for them to confront and handle new projects. In the field of energy we have defined reduced consumption, improved energy efficiency and the development of alternative, renewable sources of energy as our three main goals. Friends of the Earth Norway has worked closely with other environmental organizations to stop the plans to construct two gas power plants in Western Norway. These plans are based on the impossible notion that energy consumption will continue to grow forever. Almost everybody realizes that this is way beyond the carrying capacity of the planet, but politicians fail to adopt policies to reflect this elementary knowledge. Friends of the Earth Norway runs several projects on energy and related issues. We have taken on a new and gigantic challenge by expanding our activities to Eastern Europe and Russia in particular. Aiming at no less than reducing Russia's dependence on nuclear power supply, we are establishing close links with the environmental movement, specially in northwest Russia. Top priority is given to strengthening and developing Russian environmental organizations. Our main partner is the Socio-Ecological Union. Friends of the Earth Norway has supported and worked closely with the Gaia office in Murmansk for several years. In 1996-97 we are facilitating the setting up of new offices in Petrozavodsk and St. Petersburg. It is an overall characteristic of our involvement that we do not export our own methods and views to our partners, but support locally-defined projects based on local needs and priorities - and run by local environmentalists. |
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Postal address: Norges Naturvernforbund, Grensen 9 B, 0159 Oslo, Norway
Visiting address: Miljøhuset G9 i Grensen 9 B, Oslo
Phone: +47 23 10 96 10 Fax: +47 23 10 96 11
Mail:naturvern@naturvern.no