Local opposition is strong to wealthy Norwegian industrialist Kjell Inge Røkke’s plans to build a skyscraper at Fornebu in Bærum, west of Oslo. Residents literally in the shadow of the 60-story building are already calling it Norway’s version of Trump Tower. “We are outraged over these plans,” Anne Greve, deputy leader of an organization representing […]
Top management team quits Bellona
October 2, 2018
Norway’s high-profile environmental foundation Bellona lost its entire management group this week after a disagreement with Bellona’s founder Frederic Hauge. Their mass resignation follows a year of unsuccessful discussions over strategy and leadership under Hauge. “This is all about whether a management group shall function as a group, and a question of how much Frederic shall […]
Electric car owners start losing benefits
September 26, 2018
Owners of electric cars in Norway, and especially in the capital, have enjoyed lots of benefits meant to encourage their purchase. Many are starting to lose their exemption from road tolls and now the City of Oslo intends to demand payment for using recharging stations that have been free. The cars called elbiler have been […]
Solheim’s travel hits UNEP funding
September 24, 2018
Sweden and Denmark have both decided to withhold funding for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), after reports about its director Erik Solheim’s extensive and expensive travel. Solheim, a former Norwegian government minister and UN envoy, defends his constant globetrotting and promises to correct any mistakes made. Newspaper Aftenposten broke news last week of a highly critical […]
Solheim responds to the UN’s criticism
September 21, 2018
Veteran Norwegian politician Erik Solheim is now responding to harsh criticism that’s erupted over his extensive and expensive travel as head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The former Norwegian government minister in charge of environmental issues faced UN employees this week and reportedly accepted some of the blame, but not all. Oslo-based newspaper Aftenposten […]
Climate change threatens Svalbard
September 17, 2018
After decades of warnings, Norway’s Arctic settlements on Svalbard are suddenly facing more dramatic effects of climate change. Its current, highly visible consequences on Svalbard are emerging just as climate and environmental advocates met once again last week, for a Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco that also attracted Norwegian officials caught between efforts […]
Former minister scolded by the UN
September 13, 2018
Norway’s former minister of both the environment and foreign aid, Erik Solheim, is facing a severe scolding from auditors at the United Nations over how he’s carrying out his current duties as head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). They’re sharply criticizing Solheim’s alleged overspending on near constant travel and lack of respect for UN […]
Arctic Fund Management dumps Hydro
September 11, 2018
Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro has had a rough year and at least one funds manager in Oslo seems to have lost patience. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported Tuesday that Arctic Fund Management was dropping Hydro from its portfolio despite some better news last week. “We’re taking Norsk Hydro out because of weak sentiment for […]
Drought boosted environmental groups
September 10, 2018
As Norwegians sweltered through their hottest summer on record, many of them seem to have been inspired to join climate- and environmental advocacy groups. The country’s drought also clearly alarmed many, with membership numbers also rising at the Norwegian Greens Party (MDG). “It’s easy to think that our quite high membership growth during the summer […]
Bottle deposit charges rise
September 3, 2018
It’s called “panting” in Norway, but it has nothing to do with losing one’s breath. Rather it’s the customary practice of returning bottles to either get a refund for the pant (deposit) paid on purchase, or donate it to charity, and it’s now rising for the first time in more than 25 years. The pant […]
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