The SusNordic Gateway

The SusNordic Gateway focuses on how global commitments to sustainable development are being implemented in the Nordic countries, with a special emphasis on energy and climate-change.

The SusNordic Gateway is being jointly developed by the research programme ProSus at the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo, in close cooperation with the Ideas Bank Foundation (Stiftelsen Idébanken).

Funding is provided by the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment.

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Editor : John Hille

Danish municipalities to save more energy
The Danish Association of Local Authorities has signed an agreement with the Minister of Transport and Energy, under which the municipalities will implement the same guidelines for energy efficiency efforts as central government. This means, among other things, that all energy efficiency measures with a payback time of five years or less should be carried out.

Read more (Danish) [26.10.07]

Solheim takes over Environment portfolio in Norway
As part of a Cabinet reshuffle in Norway, Development Minister Erik Solheim (Socialist Left) has taken over the Environment portfolio previously held by Ms. Helen Bjørnøy. He thus becomes the country’s first Minister for Environment and Development, 20 years after the Brundtland Commission presented its report showing the interdependence of the two issues.

Minister's official bio - "Aftenposten" news story
[26.10.07]
More nuclear reactors for Finland?
Three companies - Fortum, Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) and Fennovoima - are now independently exploring the possiblity of building new nuclear reactors in Finland. Proposals from Fortum and TVO are already in the first stage of review by the authorities - a process that will take two years. Meanwhile, Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen has stated that Finland must shortly stop using coal and oil to generate heat and electricity. Finland currently has four reactors and a fifth nearing completion. They provide about a quarter of the country's power, while coal and oil provide one-sixth.
Read more (Swedish) [13.10.07]
Fuel prices in Iceland amoung world's highest
Iceland has the world's most expensive diesel fuel and the third most expensive petrol, surpassed only by Turkey and Eritrea, according to a survey of 170 countries. The survey, carried out by the Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit of Germany, reflects prices at the end of 2006. All five Nordic countries were among the 20 with the highest fuel prices. Norway ranked just below Iceland, with Denmark a few places further down, while Sweden had the cheapest petrol and Finland the cheapest diesel of the Nordic countries. Both Finland, Norway and Sweden intend increase fuel taxes further from 1 January.
Iceland Review story - Source document [13.10.07]
Norway ups emissions taxes, climate spending
Presenting her 2008 budget to the Storting yesterday, Norwegian Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen claimed the climate change was the No.1 issue to be addressed. Following on the recent examples of Finland and Sweden, the tax on diesel fuel will be increased, as will taxes on heating oil and domestic aviation fuel. Investments in rail infrastructure will grow, NOK 500 million (€ 65 mn) will be allocated to buy emissions reductions abroad and NOK 1.1 bn to carbon capture and storage. Although funding for Enova, the state enterprise charged with promoting renewables and energy efficiency, will grow from NOK 1.1 billion in 2007 to NOK 1.45 bn, spokepeople for several oppostion parties commented that much more should have been allocated to renewables, including R&D in the field.
More about the budget: Ministry of Finance - Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (English) - Ministry for the Environment (Norwegian only)
[06.10.07]
Nordic companies lack climate targets, transparency
The Climate Disclosure Project (CDP), which represents global investors with assets of $ 41 trillion, has just issued a report on 125 of the largest Nordic companies. Two-thirds responded to the CDP questionnaire, which compares favourably with other CDP surveys. However, only half of those responding were willing to have their responses published, compared to 75 % of Financial Times 500 companies, raising doubts about the Nordic reputation for transparency. 76 % disclosed their actual emissions, but only 23 % had set targets for reducing them, compared to 76 % of FT500 companies. Among carbon-intensive companies, Fortum of Finland got the best marks from CDP, followed by Statoil and Hydro of Norway. Among less carbon-intensive companies, Sweden took all the medals (Gunnebo, TeliaSonera and Ericsson).
Download full report [06.10.07]
Carbon-neutral Copenhagen in 2025?
Copenhagen's Deputy Mayor with responsibility for environment and infrastructure issues, Mr. Claus Bondam, has called for the city to become carbon-neutral by 2025. This would be achieved inter alia by reducing car traffic and strongly increasing use of renewavle energy sources, including a geothermal reservoir 2.5 km below the city. At present the island of Samsø (pop. 4200) is Denmark's only carbon-neutral community, while Frederikshavn (story of 21 September) hopes to become so by 2015.
Read more [06.10.07]
Climate labelling of food proposed in Sweden
The Swedish Ministry for the Environment is negotiating with representatives of the food industry over a proposal to introduce mandatory climate labelling. The scheme would force suppliers to provide information to consumers about the greenhouse gas intensity of their products. According to the Ministry, food is responsible for some 20 % of Swedish GHG emissions.
Read more [06.10.07]
Danish energy use up by 1.5 % last year
Energy use in Denmark, corrected for electricity exports, rose by 1.5 % in 2006, according to figures just released by the Danish Energy Agency. The increase was due to very strong economic growth. Still, energy use remains only 6 % higher than in 1980, while GDP has grown by almost 80 % over the same period (graph).
Read more (Danish) [28.09.07]
Ban on light bulbs proposed in Finland
A group of MPs from the Swedish People's Party and the Green League, both of which are reprersented in the Government, as well as the opposition Left Alliance, have introduced legislation which would ban the sale of incandenscent light bulbs in Finland from 2011. Australia has previously made a similar move, and it is under dicussion at the EU level. Swapping all light bulbs in Finland for compact fluorescent tubes would save an estimated 1 TWh of electricity a year.
Read more [27.09.07]
Big potential for electricity savings in Swedish schools
A study just released by the Swedish Energy Agency shows that use of electricity for purposes other than heating varies widely between schools in the country, with some using as little as 30 kWh/m2 and others 140 kWh/m2. Most of this is for lighting or ventilation, yet there is no significant correlation between energy use for ventilation and air quality, and actually a negative correlation between lighting energy and lighting quality. At least half of the electricity could be saved through better lighting fixtures and control of ventilation. In Denmark, where electricity is dearer than in Sweden, schools use only 23 kWh/m2 compared to the Swdedish average of 61 kWh/m2. In Norway, where it is cheaper, they use about 90 kWh/m2, not counting heating.
Download report (Swedish) [28.09.07]
Norway announces first tender for CDM/JI projects
The Norwegian Ministry of Finance has announced its first tender for CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) or JI (Joint Implementation) projects to reduce GHG emissions in other countries. Norway's GHG emissions in the 2008-2012 period will exceed its Kyoto target by a wide margin, and the excess will have to be made up either by purchases of emissions permits under the EU trading scheme or through other flexible mechanisms. The first round of tendering is for emissions reductions of up to 1 million tons of CO2 at a cost of up to 200 million NOK (€ 27 mn). "Special attention" will be given to proposals for CDM/JI projects in countries which so far have few or none.
Read more [28.09.07]

Haga takes over Energy portfolio in Norway
The leader of the Norwegian Centre Party, Ms. Åslaug Haga, has taken over the position of Minister of Petroleum and Energy from Mr. Odd-Roger Enoksen. For the past two years Ms. Haga was Minister of Local Government, and showed her interest in the energy field by launching a “Green energy communities” programme. The new Minister says that she intends to focus om renewble energy and climate change issues. According to several Norwegian media, bioenergy is likely to be high on her agenda.
Ministry announcement (Norwegian) - "Aftenposten" news story (English)
[21.09.07]
First Danish "Climate Municipality" named
The Danish Society for Nature Conservation has launched a "Climate Municipalities" programme, under which it will co-operate with frontrunner communities in the field and help advertise their activities during the run-up to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009. The first agreement has been signed with the harbour town of Frederikshavn in North Jutland, whose goal is to be self-sufficient in renewable energy by 2015.
Read more (Danish) [21.09.07]
Sweden raises taxes on vehicle fuels
In its budget proposal for 2008, the Swedish Government has announced tax increases of SEK 0.55 and 0.29 respectively (about six and three Eurocents) per litre on diesel oil and petrol. It thus follows in the footsteps of the Finnish Government - and also of its own Social Democratic predecessor, whose policy of green tax reform (shifting taxes from labour to energy and emissions) Finance Minister Anders Borg had declared that he would suspend on taking office last year.
Read more [22.09.07]

Icelanders hope for deep-down energy bonanza
The partners in the Icelandic Deep Drilling Project, which include three major Icelandic energy companies and Alcoa, have announced that they will drill three wells to a depth of 4-5 km during 2008-2009. The objective is to test the feasibility of exploiting the potentially enormous energy source that is geothermal heat in the shape of water at supercritical temperature - over 400 degrees C or so. This could be utilised to produce electricity far more efficiently than the lower-temperature heat to be found closer to the surface. Recent advances in drilling technology may have put it within reach.
Icelandic Deep Drilling Project [15.09.07]
Denmark, Sweden to co-operate with Brazil on energy
During Brazilian President Lula da Silva's visit to Scandinavia, agreements were signed with Danish as well as Swedish authorities on increased co-operation in the energy field. Sweden and Brazil are both major producers and consumers of bioenergy products and intend to strengthen co-operation on technology development as well as assistance to developing countries that are interested in developing bioenergy resources. Denmark, which so far has little experience with liquid biofuels, is interested in Brazilian know-how in this area, as is Brazil in Danish soalar and wind energy technology.
Danish and Swedish press releases (in national languages)
[15.09.07]
Swedish Government announces new package of climate measures
The Swedish Enterprise, Environment and Agriculture Ministers have jointly announced a package of new measures over the 2008-2010 period to reduce GHG emissions. Total funding will amount to SEK 1 billion (€ 105 million). The largest sums will be allocated to development of second generation biofuels, energy efficiency initiatives and a "programme for sustainable cities and communities".
Read more [15.09.07]
Danish trains to run on renewables
The Danish State Railways (DSB) have entered into a contract with DONG Energy under which all the power for their electric trains from 2008 on will come from renewable sources, including Danish wind power and foreign hydropower. DSB use some 250 GWh annually for their intercity trains and suburban trains in the Copenhagen area, while other local trains are diesel-powered.
Read more (Danish) [07.09.07]
Sweden "must cut GHG emissions by 70-85 %"
An expert committee of scientists, which was appointed to advise the Government on climate policy in preparation for a White Paper which it is to deliver next spring, presented its report on 3 September. Although Sweden's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are already among the lowest in Europe, the scientists say the country must cut them by between 70 and 85 % within 2050 if it wants to act as a responsible member of the global community. The full report is available for download in Swedish.
Read more (Swedish) [07.09.07]
Feed-in tariffs for Finland?
The Finnish Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen, who is responsible for energy policy in the Cabinet, has come out in favour of introducing a system of feed-in tariffs for green electricity. At present the state provides limited subsidies for electricity generated from new renewable sources such as wind power. Under a feed-in tariff scheme, utilities would instead be obliged to pay a premium for such electricity, thereby offloading the national budget.
Read more [07.09.07]

Norway will miss EU climate train
Fears that Norway would not be ready to join the new EU emissions trading scheme when it is introduced on 1 January 2008 now seem certain to come true, according to Norwegian State Broadcasting. The three governing parties have so far been unable to agree on the details of their proposed allocations scheme for Norwegian industry - and once they do, the proposal will have to go through a lengthy vetting by the EU Commission. The Federation of Norwegian Industries does not expect a scheme to become operative in Norway until July of next year.
Read more (Norwegian) [07.09.07]
EU accepts Danish emissions plan
The EU Commission today announced that it has accepted the Danish plan for allocating CO2 emissions permits during the 2008-2012 period, with only very minor adjustments. While the two other Nordic EU members - Sweden and Finland - were allowed fewer permits than they had proposed, the only significant change ordered in the Danish case was a reduction from 19 % to 17 % in the share of emissions that Danish companies would be allowed to offset through CDM or JI projects. Minister for the Environment Connie Hedegaard is naturally satisfied.
Read more (Danish) [31.08.07]
For older stories see News archive