– Our politicians, at all levels, are failing nature, says Fredrik Holth. Holth, who is a lecturer in legal subjects at NMBU, has followed construction in nature closely for a number of years. He is crystal clear after seeing news’s documentation of nature loss in Norway. – The government knows what happens when they give municipalities so much responsibility for nature. They see what is happening. Yet time and again they choose not to intervene. Unique mapping On Saturday, news published a mapping of natural destruction in Norway. With the help of artificial intelligence and satellite images, we found: 44,000 interventions in nature in five years 79 square meters of nature lost per minute Even in the particularly valuable areas, such as bogs and reindeer areas, at least two football pitches of nature disappear a day This is the first time Norwegians can see the totality of how we treat our nature. New E39 in SørlandetNew double track past EidsvollExtension of Evenes airportFosen wind power plantNew double track for VestfoldbanenNew E16 over SollihøgdaGrenlandsporten The case has triggered strong reactions, both among ordinary people in social media and experts. – Even for me, who knows a lot and has seen a lot of natural destruction, this is startling, said biologist and author Dag O. Hessen to news when he was able to see the material. OVERWHELMED: Dag O. Hessen after seeing the pictures of natural destruction in Norway. Photo: Patrick da Silva Sæther / news Placing the responsibility at government level In Norway, it is the municipalities that mainly decide where to build, and it can be tempting to blame each individual local politician. But after news’s revelations, professionals instead point to the government. – Those who are responsible are those who have not ensured that we have strict enough laws. It should have been forbidden to destroy valuable nature, says general secretary Christian Steel of the environmental organization Sabima. Fredrik Holth, who is an expert in planning and building law, says the government has a number of opportunities to tighten and quickly change course. Norwegian legislation gives the state a number of instruments to look after national and regional interests, such as natural diversity, he says. – The government could solve this overnight if they wanted to. But there is a lack of political will, says Holth. Thousands upon thousands of construction sites in nature. Each small square is a construction field, but the mosaic only shows a small proportion of the total construction. Graphics: Ruben Solvang / news/Norgeibilder If they took news’s findings seriously, the government could, for example, make stricter demands on the municipalities, he believes. They could also send clear signals to the state administrators to use their right to raise objections to building projects. The state administrators are the authorities’ emergency brake in natural matters. Instead, three governments in a row have given the municipalities more power. And asked the state administrators to interfere less in development matters. This is problematic, the expert believes, not least because the Storting has decided that objections must be based on professional assessments, not political ones. – Our descendants will judge us harshly, says Holth about how we manage to take care of nature. Will not have more objections Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen says that news’s material shows that the authorities have a huge job ahead of them. – This shows that we are on the wrong course. This is something we all have to take seriously, and I hope that all local politicians are aware of this, says Bjelland Eriksen to news. SERIOUS: Andreas Bjelland Eriksen looks at news’s documentation. Photo: Snorre Tønset / news He believes that politicians before him have failed to gain an overview and control over nature for many years. Reversing this development is a major project for the government, he explains. Nevertheless, he does not want to do as Fredrik Holth suggests – to tighten his grip on the municipalities. – I think it is absolutely right that we should have strong local self-government in Norway. It is the people who live in their municipality who know best what is needed to develop their own society, and I think people in the municipalities are keen to take care of their own nature, says Bjelland Eriksen. He defends the government declaration, in which the Labor Party and the Center Party write that “fewer government objections must be submitted”. This does not mean in practice – Submitting objections is not a goal in itself, we rather want the municipalities to be best placed to work on this themselves. If the State Administrator can provide more guidance during the processes, there will not be a need for so many objections, he says. Instead, he primarily puts his trust in a new nature account, which the Government is working to put in place by 2026. Lost nature while you have read this case:
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Thinks the government could save nature overnight – news Dokumentar
