At half past two, Climate and Environment Minister Tore O. Sandvik (Ap) and Agriculture and Food Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp) present the Storting report on natural diversity. Already on Wednesday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre revealed that the government is planning “a historic effort” for nature after what he characterizes as “an awakening” during the past year. The new action plan will specify how Norway will follow up the agreement to protect 30 percent of nature that was adopted in Montreal, Canada in 2022. To news, Støre says that the target is too “global” to calculate and that the government has not defined an exact number for protection in Norway. The plan will now be sent for further consideration in the Storting. – Too complicated So far, the response to the Naturmeldinga is weak. – They promised a message to the Storting that would stop the loss of nature. It was supposed to be a historic investment and deliver on the global nature agreement. What we have seen now will not deliver on the targets in the nature agreement, says secretary general of the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature, Karoline Andaur. – What makes you disappointed? – For the sea, it says that we have to go further. It’s completely silly when we have a global goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean! At the same time, we facilitate more oil and gas, an urgent process to get mining on the seabed, more offshore wind, and then we don’t want to protect the sea – it’s completely crazy! This is what the government’s Tore O. Sandvik, climate and environment minister says – The way we live and use nature affects natural diversity. Important industries around the country are directly dependent on nature. Therefore, sustainable and good management is absolutely decisive. – Each individual action that damages nature is often both legitimate and can have good motives, but the sum of the effects can be too much. Therefore, the government proposes a more systematic and wholesome way of working with nature, within what natural diversity tolerates. We must use and manage nature so that we can continue to live both from him and with him for the inestimable future. – We are introducing a system in the work that has been lacking until now. We have set a direction and are putting tools in place that make it easier to raise the work with nature higher on the agenda. The sum of the measures and measures we bring in the report will contribute to nature becoming a framework for all politics, as we have set ourselves the goal of in the Hurdalsplattforma. – We are taking action for a more land-friendly policy based on local self-government and respect for indigenous people’s rights. Healthy and reliable management of the area is necessary to make good trade-offs between different interests. In the event of conflicts between different development purposes, particularly socially beneficial purposes such as renewable power generation, power lines, socially critical digital infrastructure and defense shall be given heavy weight. – Now I am primarily incredibly disappointed, says Secretary General of the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature, Karoline Andaur. Here together with colleagues while bored read the new message. Photo: Tommy Iversen / news Gunvar Mikkelsen in Forum for nature and outdoor life Hordaland complains that he has not yet read the entire Storting message. – Støre’s commitment to nature is in itself positive, but there are many of us who fear that what comes in the message will be far too complicated, he says. Earlier in the month, the Prime Minister said that he has developed an equally “loving” relationship with the forest as with the mountain, symbolized by increased investment in voluntary forest protection. Støre has previously said that he can imagine “making love” (!) with Hallingskarvet. Støre added that he took government colleague Geir Pollestad to school when the Minister of Agriculture said that all interventions in Norwegian nature “were worth it”. – Not enough to fulfill the Nature Agreement Leader in Nature and Youth, Gytis Blaževičius, says to news that the government “inflates mediocre measures”. – Støre has promised a recipe against nature loss, but only serves a serious talk with the Minister of Agriculture and NOK 100 million for nature measures. That is 300 times less than the oil tax package. – This is not a historic investment in nature, says Ola Elvestuen (V) – It is a historically bad investment in nature. An additional NOK 100 million for both mapping and restoration of nature in next year’s budget is a pittance, and will not reverse the negative development in Norwegian nature. See more reactions below. Cicilie S. Andersen Une Bastholm, MDGStøre promised that taking care of the climate and nature should be framed around all politics, but this shows that he has abdicated. This is not a major investment in nature, it is a recipe for nature and our species to continue disappearing at a record pace. news Sofie Marhaug, RaudtIt is too easy to count Svalbard among the 30 percent. It is also worrying that there are no concrete targets for the sea, when we are managing such large and important sea areas. On the positive side, it is good that it is open to strengthen the position of nature in the Building Act. There are some fine formulations and good intentions in the message, these must be followed up with concrete policy. Rune Nordgård Andreassen Morten Wedege, NaturviterneNaturmeldinga has good intentions, but lacks concrete measures to stop the loss of nature. The government assumes that it is the municipalities that will largely do the work, but it does not state how to strengthen the municipality’s competence and capacity, beyond more guidance and inter-municipal cooperation. There is also no concrete target for reduced degradation of nature. Marius Dalseg Sætre Dag Terje Klarp Solvang, secretary general of the Norwegian Tourist Association (DNT) Some of the most important health policies in this country are not the responsibility of the health minister. Nature plays a decisive role in the prevention of diseases and mental health problems. When the warning lights are now flashing for our nature, we must take action. Naturmeldinga must have a clear and ambitious plan to stop nature loss. Nature Conservation Association Truls Gulowsen, leader of the Nature Conservation Association In recent decades, there have been much fewer fish in the Oslo Fjord, seabirds struggle along the entire coast, and the rich natural forests are shrinking. Nature is being destroyed and a number of species are about to disappear. This should be a clear enough signal to get politicians and the administration to act. National Association of the Building Industry / Photographer Nicolas Tourrenc Nina Solli, director of NHO Building Industry This will be a major adjustment for the construction industry, but we are ready to tackle it. There are some challenges for us in this, but also many opportunities. We must seize them. We still need housing, schools, nurseries, shops and industry. Then we must more easily be able to build more on gray areas and build more in height, both for new buildings and in existing buildings. ingunn johansen Mari Larsen, general secretary of LHLNærleik til nature plays a decisive role for Norwegian public health. 90% of the disease burden in Norway can be prevented, including heart and vascular disease. Politicians must therefore see conservation of nature as good health policy. Johanna Hanno / news Frode Pleym, Greenpeace It is good that Jonas Gahr Støre takes Geir Pollestad in his ear when he states that all interventions in Norwegian nature “were worth it”. And we are happy that Støre describes that he has had “an awakening”. But sorry ass, it seems that the Prime Minister is still asleep. NTB Einar Wilhelmsen, secretary general of the environmental organization Sabima The Prime Minister promises a historic effort against nature loss. For us at Sabima, a proper investment means an increase of 2 billion for nature in the national budget, and not least an action plan that clearly shows how, with the help of legislation and other powerful measures, the destruction of nature is to be stopped, much more restored and the most valuable protected. Elin Eike Worren Karoline Andaur, secretary general of the WWF World Nature Fund The government proposes to protect 30 percent of nature on land in Norway, including Svalbard, but has no plan for the protection of the sea. It is incredibly weak, Norway has committed to protect 30 percent of all nature by 2030, including the sea. By exposing the ocean in this way, Støre hast is failing completely, and its role as leader of the international ocean panel. – There must be stricter requirements for the municipalities The Nature Conservancy has, ahead of the presentation, put forward three requests for the new Nature Plan. More “real” protection. Dispensations, exceptions and subsidiaries that work against the conservation objective must be stopped. Stricter requirements for business: “The rules of the game for business must give nature a chance, so legislation and control must be greatly strengthened”. Stricter requirements for municipalities. Despite claims that the “cottage municipalities” are an “Achilles heel” in the work with nature conservation, Norwegian municipalities have been given greater responsibility for environmental and land management in recent years. Earlier this year, however, the government clarified that it was not relevant to “move the edges” of that local self-government. The clarification came after increased pressure to lift more of the spatial planning to a higher administrative level, which can have a more overarching view of nature conservation. Norwegian local democracy has solid traditions, and state oversight is deeply rooted. This is what the report says about the local self-government. Photo: news NOK 100 million in the state budget About kroner and øre, the prime minister said the following on Wednesday: NOK 30 million for the restoration of nature, for example to repair bogs NOK 20 million for the Natursats project, where municipalities can apply for funds for nature measures In addition there will be 50 millions for a new nature map, which news mentioned earlier in September – We need a system change with clear and stricter requirements for the municipalities, says Une Bastholm in MDG. Nina Solli, director of NHO Byggenæringen, tells news that she wants a “broad settlement at the Storting to ensure predictable framework conditions for the construction industry”. – When we are now going to build less on virgin land, we must make it far easier to build on existing buildings and gray land that has already been put into use. Lost nature while you have read this case: Published 27/09/2024, at 12.10
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