Victoria Elise Granås shows where the slide went. During the extreme weather at the beginning of August, a landslide went through the housing estate in Bagn in Valdres. She and her family had to evacuate. – It was very scary. Both when it happened and for a while afterwards. It was so uncertain. We did not know when or if we would return home. We didn’t know what it looked like at home. The extreme weather has led her to become more aware of climate issues. And she is not alone in that. A new survey carried out by news shows that climate has become much more important to people than it was just a few months ago. The landslide left clear traces in the residential area of Victoria Elise Granås in Bagn in Valdres. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news The most important individual issues for voters 2023 news has asked a representative sample of the population the following question: Which area of politics is most important to you? Here are the ten most important priorities from August (the answers from May in parentheses): Climate, green change, sustainability and the environment 10% – (6%) Health and hospitals 10% – (13%) Social inequality/poverty/outsiders 10% – (9%) Elderly care 9% – (9%) Private finances 9% – (9%) School and education 7% – (8%) Mental health 6% – (8%) Transport, public transport and road construction 5% – (5% ) Growing up conditions for children and young people 4% – (4%) Energy policy and power development 3% – (4%) Voters want more about climate Victoria Granås has not been so concerned about climate before, but after being evacuated from her home on due to extreme weather, it has made her change her mind. – Then you start to think much more about it. That it could actually happen here and whether it could happen again, says Victoria. Although not everyone has been so close to the extreme weather, a new survey carried out by Norstat for news shows that climate issues have gained much greater interest since May. Then news asked a representative sample of the population which issue is most important for news to cover in connection with the election. In May, 6 percent answered “climate, green change, sustainability and the environment.” In August, 10 percent answered the same. – It seems that climate and environmental issues have increased interest among voters, says election researcher Johannes Bergh at the Institute for Social Research. Johannes Bergh, election researcher at the Institute for Social Research. Photo: UiO He believes that the extreme weather “Hans” can be decisive. – This summer there has been extreme weather in many places in the world, including here in Norway. This has led to many discussions about the climate issue, which the voters also pick up on. That makes them more interested in the matter, he says. Bergh says that the climate issue depends on there being attention to the topic. – We have seen that in the past too, for example in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident in the 1980s, it led to more attention to the climate issue, also in Norway. Both voters and politicians are concerned with what is happening around them and allow themselves to be influenced by it. The political parties have put climate on the agenda to a much greater extent in recent years, he believes. – Climate and environmental issues have gone from being an issue only for a few climate and environmental parties to being an issue that all parties have on the agenda. The voters expect that the local parties in the municipalities also take the climate issue into account, says Johannes Bergh. Big clean-up job after extreme weather Kristian Roen, who is the general manager at Dokka camping in Nordre Land, has spent a lot of time in recent weeks cleaning up after the flood a few weeks ago. Then the campsite was under water. – There were so many forces that it is almost impossible to describe. I never thought it could be like this. The water rose half a meter an hour, he says. But whether the injuries affect what he is concerned with in politics, he is not sure. Kristian Roen, general manager at Dokka camping in Nordre Land has had a lot of work with the clean-up after the flood a few weeks ago. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news – No, it doesn’t, but it is clear that I have registered that in our municipality it is the Center Party and mayor Dokken who have stood up for us. Mayor: – Must put climate and environment on the agenda SP mayor Ola Tore Dokken is sure that climate has become more important to people. – I certainly think so. Now we see the consequences of what scientists have been saying for many years. More weather and wilder weather. “Hans” was an example of that. It is clear that we must put climate and the environment on the agenda. Ola Tore Dokken, mayor (Sp) in Nordre Land believes that people have been reminded that climate is important. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news He also believes that locally it is even more important to work with preparedness and preventive measures with a view to future floods. Victoria Elise Granås in Bagn believes that it is those who feel climate change most firsthand who are most concerned about it. CLIMATE BECAME MORE IMPORTANT: Victoria Elise Granås and her family had to evacuate due to a landslide in the housing estate where she lived. Climate issues have become more important to her. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news In any case, it is like that for her: – I would like to believe that those who are a little further away and have not experienced it, still think a little too little about climate – because I know how I was before it happened here . I didn’t think much of it. Now it’s in the memory all the time.
ttn-69
Climate and the environment have become more important to voters after the extreme weather “Hans” – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
