In accordance with the Planning and Building Act, the county councils are responsible for preparing a county plan, a comprehensive plan outlining development activities within a sustainable framework. The plan shall lay down guidelines for the use of land and natural resources in the county concerning matters that will have major impacts beyond the boundaries of a municipality.

Each municipality is obliged to prepare a municipal master plan. The plan consists of a long term component and a short term component. The long term component consists of goals for the development of the municipality, sector planning and a part referring to land use. The land use part, which is legally binding, is to be reconsidered for major revision once each election period (which is 4 years).The short term component comprises an integrated programme of action for the sectoral activities during the next few years. This part is not legally binding, but provides the political framework for the municipality to establish priority between activities.

The municipality also prepares detailed plans (local development plans) with associated provisions which regulate the use and protection of land, watercourses, sea areas, buildings and the external environment in specific areas in a municipality.

Both the county plan and the municipal master plan must be within the framework of the national guidelines. The integrated approach is ensured by the fact that the plans shall "co-ordinate the physical, economic, social and cultural planning within their areas". The county governor shall control that the policy and propositions are within national goals concerning economy, nature conservation and pollution.

In some fields national standards which influence land use are set. An example is noise pollution, which affects spatial planning. Generally speaking, biodiversity can not be saved e.g. by preserving areas. The problems must be solved within a "sustainable use"-framework, meaning by use of the Planning and Building Act. This requires integration of environmental and land use planning. We also rely on the system of environmental impact assessments, for larger scale projects.

Information and development programmes play an important part in bringing about change at the local level. The EIA-system, as well as encouraging public participation through the planning system, are important contributions to local and regional involvement. Local and regional authorities have received extensive responsibilities in the process of planning and managing the land resources. The Ministry of Environment can overrule plans or projects, if they conflict with national goals.

These topics have recently been developed and are discussed in a white paper on regional planning and land use policy to be presented in March 1997. This white paper deals, among other topics, with planning in mountain areas, coastal zones, rivers and cultural landscapes, and gives guidelines for reducing transport through spatial planning.

The latest national forest survey was started in 1994/1995. The survey covers several features: area of productive forest, amount of timber resources, parameters descriptive of composition of vegetation, environmental condition, history of forest establishment, and maintenance. Deforestation is not considered a problem in Norway today. Loss of forest occurs mostly due to urbanization and encroaching agriculture, but it is not considered to be at a level which reduces the forest area. Air pollution has a moderate impact on forest damage while acidification and natural causes have only a light impact. Due to financial incentives by the Forest Trust Fund, active reforestation is carried out in all logged areas, through either planting or natural re-vegetation.

Forest productivity and tolerance to environmental stress has been improved by: tree breeding; development of seed technology and seed procurement networks; inv itro techniques (laboratory cultivation); and in situ/ex situ conservation. The following issues have been fully addressed by the government: public education in forestry has increased; research needs have been reviewed; existing forest programmes have been analyzed; multiple roles/values of forests have been recognized; land classification and land use surveys have been accomplished; small scale forest based industries have been promoted; information exchange linkages have been improved; national plans for planted forests have been created; investment analysis and feasibility studies have been made; and social, economical and ecological values have been integrated into national economic accounting systems. The government has also addressed the following issues: forest extension service; post graduate education in forestry; indigenous knowledge of forests; geographic information on forests; remote sensing; and eco-tourism. The main obstacles to effective reforestation are the competitive vegetation and conditions, especially low temperatures.

A parliament initiated working group is evaluating forest carbon sink and how Norwegian forest policies may supplement other national climatic measures without creating environmental conflicts.

The International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification
Particularly in Africa was signed in 1994 and ratified in 1996.
Additional comments relevant to this chapter:

Norway is not an affected country partner under the Convention to Combat Desertification. Norway's role concerning the Convention is as a donor to affected developing countries. These contributions are channeled through multilateral channels as well as regular bilateral aid programmes. Additionally, activities implemented jointly to combat climate change may yield benefits in terms of land use and protection.

funds (compensation) to land-owners for establishing special nature conservation areas
grants to farmers to maintain and develop cultural landscapes
grants to farmers to compensate for damage caused by predators
grants for research
Large mountain areas are used for or affected by several types of encroachments linked to road constructions, hydroelectric schemes, power-line corridors, industrial and other commercial projects, and housing. In this century, areas with a wilderness-like character have been reduced drastically. Such areas, located more than 5 km from a major technical encroachment, constituted 12% of the country in 1994, compared with 48% inn 1990 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen are not included). Many of the wilderness-like areas that are left are located in the mountain regions and in the northern part of Norway.

In an international context, Norway has a particular responsibility for preserving a representative selection of its areas of fjords, coasts and mountains. For instance, the Norwegian mountains represent the natural habitat in Europe for the original wild mountain reindeers, and Norway has therefore a special responsibility for conserving this species. The Government has designated large continuous areas of natural habitat as one of the main targets of its land use policy as regards natural resources.

The Nature Conservation Act has been and will in the years to come be one of the major legal instruments to secure biodiversity, also in mountain regions. On national level, large mountain areas are already secured through the existing Norwegian national park system. According to a new, approved Action Plan for National Parks, the protection of mountain areas will be extended significantly towards the year 2008.

One of the main tasks in regional planning is to ensure sustainable land use management in such areas. National and regional protection plans pursuant to the Nature Conservation Act are important, but they are not sufficient on their own to achieve Norway's environmental policy goals of maintaining viable ecosystems and biological production and diversity.

In recent years, counties have begun to draw up joint land use plans for several large mountain regions in southern Norway. Work is in progress for Setesdal Vesthei, the Dovrefjell area and the eastern Hardangervidda. A joint land use plan for the Rondane mountains in Hedmark and Oppland counties was approved by the central authorities as early as 1992. Several of these plans involve coordinated land use management pursuant to the Planning and Building Act in the peripheral zone and protection plans pursuant to the Nature Conservation Act in the core area.

The main strategy is to integrate environmental concerns in agricultural policy as such, in order to obtain comprehensive solutions. The main policy instrument, i.e. regional and structural support, as well as environmental goals and programmes, are negotiated annually between the Government and the two farmers unions, and laid down in the Agricultural Agreement. Measures are targeted towards specific purposes to promote cost-effective action. In addition, to promote implementation of new environmental innovations, free or subsidized guidance and research and development (R&D) is provided. Some measures are founded on voluntary action and commitments of the farmers, whereas others are compulsory measures. Monitoring and control systems are established to secure implementation on the farms and to evaluate the effectiveness of means and measures.

In terms of reindeer husbandry, the most important measures are to reduce the amount of reindeer in districts with overgrazing and at the same time increase the production and the productivity of the remaining reindeer in order to maintain the level of income to the Sami people involved in reindeer husbandry.

The Rural Development Support Scheme (RDSS) was established as a response to the challenges rural communities are facing when it comes to employment and changes in the settlement structure. The RDSS is intended to be supplementary to general regional aid by providing an incentive to small-scale operations, initiated to create employment to replace disappearing jobs within agriculture. The target group is people attached to farm holdings. Environmental sustainability is a precondition for support from the RDSS.

The Ministry of Agriculture seeks to combine industry with environmental and cultural concerns. An ongoing process seeks to integrate environmental concerns in planning, procedures, implementation and evaluation. The RDSS funding is available to both men and women, but gives special priority to women.

Technical advancement and the following reduction of people directly involved in agriculture have made a strong impact on women's involvement and role in agriculture. We recognize the effect that agricultural policy may have on women and their position within agriculture and endorse a policy which takes women's experiences, values, concerns and resources into account. To ensure this, the Ministry of Agriculture works for a more equitable representation of women and men in decision-making positions and leading roles within the sector. The knowledge and interest women show for sustainable rural development is of vital importance. Employment opportunities have to be expanded to make sure that women find an interesting future in rural areas.

The long-term plans for research in Agriculture (1995-2005) states the goals, strategies and priorities for agricultural research, which is to provide the knowledge required for sustainable management of nature and production of food, forest products, other products and services based on biological resources, land resources and sustainable rural development.

During the past years, there has been a reorganization of the administrative set-up pertaining to environmental policies and agriculture. New formal mechanisms, both at central and local/regional level, are bringing a better integration of environmental and rural priorities into overall agricultural policy, and are promoting a more efficient approach to sustainable development on regional and local level.

The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in 1992 and ratified in 1993.

The first report on the implementation of Article 6 will be submitted by June 1997.

A country study on biological diversity in Norway was issued in 1992 as a follow-up to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was signed in 1976.

The latest report submitted was in 1995.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

Protected areas consists of 18 National Parks, 76 Landscape Protected Areas and 1172 Nature Reserves in Norway. The most important acts which can be used for area protection are the Nature Conservation Act and the Svalbard Act. In addition there are conservation initiatives according to other acts, such as: the Planning and Building Act, the Wildlife Act, the Act Relating to Salmonids and Freshwater Fish etc., the Cultural Heritage Act, the Act on Saltwater Fishes and the Aquaculture Act.

Norway is party to five international conservation and sustainable use instruments: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), the Convention on the Conservation on Migratory Species (Bonn) and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Protection of species is primarily secured by conservation and proper management of habitats. In addition, there are several action plans for managing species requiring special attention (e.g. threatened species, game species). Species covered by the Wildlife Act and the Act Relating to Salmonids and Freshwater Fish (terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and other freshwater organisms) are at the outset under the principle of general protection.

In order to improve the co-ordination of collecting, storing and presenting environmental data, the Ministry of Environment has established a network of 10 thematic centres. The centres will together cover all sectors relevant to environmental issues/data collection.

"Monitoring of Environmental Biodiversity" is an overall programme planned to be established by the year 2000. It is recommended that the programme is based on ongoing monitoring activities as well as on the need for new biological registrations. It is recommended that the management of the various monitoring programmes still resides with the authorities and institutions presently responsible, but the main organisational responsibility is to be placed with the Directorate for Nature Management.

In 1995, the Norwegian Research Council received approximately 8 mill USD in national funding for research in subjects related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Biodiversity is increasingly integrated into the educational system at different levels from primary school up to the universities. The establishment of Centres for Environment and Development at all universities has strengthened environmental capacity in the educational system. See also chapter 36.

Priority is given to integrating sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in all sectors and at all levels of society. All relevant sectors are participating actively in the preparation of the national action plan for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. This action plan will be part of a parliamentary report on sustainable development to be issued in spring 1997. See also chapter 8.

The Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board produces a bimonthly information leaflet that is distributed to most of the high schools and other interested institutions and people. The leaflet highlights ethical and social issues as well as potential benefits and risks related to the use of modern biotechnology.

Deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is subject to approval by the competent national authority, the Ministry of Environment.

A regulation on Impact Assessment referred to in the Gene Technology Act has been adopted. Guidelines on Procedure concerning applications for deliberate release of GMOs referred to in the Gene Technology Act are also established. An amendment to the Norwegian Gene Technology Act of 1993 was adopted on 23 June 1995. The amendment introduces an authorization which makes it possible for Norwegian authorities to issue specific regulations with regard to export of GMOs and for the establishment of Norwegian industries abroad for the production of such GMOs.

The amendment is a follow-up of the Convention on Biological Diversity which states that a Contracting Party (CP) exporting GMOs should provide any available information about the use and safety regulations required by that Party as well as any available information on the potential adverse impact of the specific organism concerned to the CP into which those organisms are to be introduced (Art. 19(4).

However, Norway will await the outcome of the negotiations on a biosafety protocol - more specifically the AIA-procedure and notification procedures (Advance Informed Agreement) required for transboundary movements of GMOs - before introducing specific regulations on such transboundary movements.

Norwegian authorities will contribute actively towards the establishment of international regulations in this regard so that the positive potential within the biotechnology field can be used without endangering the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

To facilitate the participation of all relevant authorities in the regulation of modern biotechnology, an interministerial committee in modern biotechnology has been established by the Ministry of Environment. The Norwegian Government has appointed an official independent board for biotechnology, the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board. Its mandate covers issues relating to biotechnology in connection with humans, animals, plants and microorganisms. Some of the most important functions mentioned in the mandate are as follows:

to evaluate questions of principle and general issues related to biotechnical activity, including ethical questions, to present proposals for ethical guidelines for biotechnological activity

to make recommendations concerning applications for approval of contained use and deliberate release and recommendations for the use of the appeals board in connection with rejected applications

to disseminate information among the public on issues related to biotechnology.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed in 1982 and ratified in 1996.

See also the attached tables on the next pages. Norway has a national oceans policy which is fully integrated in the national strategy for development. All the programme areas of Agenda 21's chapter 17 are considered to be important or very important and have been well and fully covered.

In principle, all pollutants to the oceans, especially hazardous substances, require international co-operation. Norway therefore participates fully and actively in all global and relevant regional co-operation for the protection of the marine environment from both sea-based and land-based activities.

The issue of hazardous substances is fully addressed in the national policy. It is stated in the report to the Parliament concerning Norway's implementation of the North Sea Declarations that, as a matter of principle, all discharges of hazardous substances should be reduced to levels that are not harmful to man or to the environment by the year 2000.

Addressing sewage related problems is of very high national importance and is generally well covered. Norway is concerned about bringing sewage onshore in scattered areas, and has therefore not ratified MARPOL 73/78 Annex IV on Sewage. Other sources of marine pollution are also receiving full attention, and environmentally less harmful pesticides and fertilizers are comprehensively promoted. Discharges of organohalogen compounds and other synthetic organic compounds are comprehensively addressed as well.

Promotion of environmentally sound technology and sustainable practices are considered very important and these aspects are generally well covered. Public awareness and information programmes are strongly supported.

Norway is at present one of the leading countries in, and hosts the secretariat for, the regional North Sea Co-operation. The integration of fisheries and environmental issues is on the list of priorities in this process.

Norway has ratified the FAO agreement on Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, and has been active in the FAO work on a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. Norway has also ratified the agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Most of the important principles in these agreements are applied in Norwegian fisheries management, and initiatives have been taken to implement the precautionary approach in fisheries. The further implementation of the specific provisions of the Code of Conduct for the UN agreement will be considered when acts and regulations are revised. Norway has pledged its support to FAO in assisting developing countries in implementing the Code of Conduct in their national fisheries policies, and supports a global Fisheries Management and Law Advisory Programme (FIMLAP) implemented by FAO.

Norway has established a coordinated approach to planning and sustainable management of the coastal zone, as regards accommodation, common property issues, pollution, biological diversity, nature conservation, cultural heritage, transport, industry, agriculture, marine culture, fisheries and other business. In coastal areas, it is often necessary to see municipal planning in several municipalities as a whole. Coastal zone planning within the framework of county planning on the basis of sustainable management of natural resources is in progress. The intention is to develop close regional co-operation on the management of the coastal zone, and thus make it easier to clarify different interests and areas of conflict between sectors.

In recent years management and development of the Oslofjord region has been in focus. As a result, the National Policy Guidelines for planning in coastal and marine areas in the Oslofjord were adopted in 1993. The guidelines define a national policy for the Oslofjord region. The implementation of the guidelines in land use planning within the framework of municipal master plans and country plans is important.

It is a national goal that, as a general principle, all measures to modernize the municipal sector should be completed by the year 2000. Norway has built several wastewater treatment plants with a phase of secondary treatment (chemical purification) over the last few years, and a secondary phase is planned for all plants (with freshwater recipient) with more than 2000 p.e. Two wastewater plants have included a phase of nitrogen removal, and three plants have started building the nitrogen removal phase. Nitrogen is not a large problem for freshwater in Norway.

River systems have been designated as a target area for regional planning and land use policy as regards natural resources. Joint land use plans for major river systems have been drawn up by several counties. Coordinated water resource planning is for instance being implemented for the Glomma, Numesdalslågen and Femund/Trysil rivers.

Critical loads of acid deposition are exceeded in areas of 117,000 km2 which comprises 1/3 of the total Norwegian land area. From 1960 to 1990, the total area with damaged fish stocks increased fivefold. Out of 13,000 fish stocks controlled, near 2,591 stocks have gone extinct and 2.914 are endangered. Acidification is mainly due to long-distance airborne pollution (SO2, NOx ) from Great Britain and from Central and Eastern Europe.

The most important organisation with which Norway co-operates in this field is the EU. Through the EEA agreement, Norway has implemented several EU directives/regulations in the chemical field. These regulations, combined with already existing national regulations, have improved the control of harmful chemicals.

Norway has implemented a regulation concerning notification of new chemical substances and thus takes part in the European notification system. This regulation implies that new chemical substances have to be tested with respect to possible hazardous effects on man and environment. The notification system contributes to avoiding new harmful chemicals entering the market.

Another important regulation which has been implemented in Norway is connected to the large number of existing chemicals already on the market. Producers and importers have to report all accessible information about health and environmental effects of these chemicals. The authorities in the EEA countries will evaluate some of these substances and propose a strategy for risk reduction.

The Norwegian environmental authorities have also implemented a regulation concerning export and import of certain dangerous chemicals, thus making the PIC procedure (prior informed consent) legally binding in Norway.

Furthermore, Norway has a comprehensive regulation concerning classification and labelling of chemical substances and preparations which are dangerous to health. The provisions set detailed requirements with respect to classification, labelling and sale of chemical substances and preparations. Norway has also implemented a regulation concerning classification and labelling of substances which may be harmful to the environment. The purpose of these regulations is to continue the efforts to prevent injury from substances and preparations which can be hazardous to health and environment.

Norway plays an active role in the OECD, especially in the work with harmonization of systems for classification and labelling of hazardous substances.

Furthermore, Norway also plays a very active role in the work with the follow-up of the North Sea Declarations* and OSPARCOM. Norway participates in the IFCS (Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety) and the ECE work with POPs (persistent organic pollutants). Norway participates in the activities going on at the Nordic level.

* By 1984, it was generally perceived that slow progress was being made in reducing pollution of the North Sea. As a result, a series of Ministerial Conferences were held, attended by Ministers responsible for the protection of the North Sea. The first was held in Germany in 1984; the second in London in 1987; the third at the Hague in 1990; and the fourth in Denmark in 1995. At the end of each Conference, the Ministers from participating countries agreed on objectives by way of Declarations. These Declarations are not legally binding and it is up to each government to decide how to achieve the stated objectives. It has been agreed that Norway should organize the next Conference in the period 2000-2002.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was signed in 1989 and ratified in 1990.

The Norwegian Regulation on Transboundary Shipments (1994), which implements the Basel Convention, is the main Norwegian legislation regulating transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. It prohibits all export of hazardous waste (waste listed on the amber and red list) to final disposal, as well as to recycling, to all areas south of latitude 60 degrees and to all non-OECD countries. Norway has established all procedures necessary to comply with the obligations in the Basel Convention.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

The main objective of Norwegian waste management is to ensure that waste-related problems are solved in such a way that waste causes as little damage and harm to the population and the natural environment as possible, while at the same time ensuring that waste and waste management utilize the least possible of the nation's resources. The main strategy for Norway's waste policy is: to prevent the generation of waste and reduce its amount of harmful substances; to promote re-use, material recycling and energy recovery; and to secure environmentally sound disposal of the remaining waste.

By the year 2000, practically all hazardous waste generated in Norway shall be recovered or otherwise treated in approved Norwegian installations for deposit or refuse disposal. Norway currently generates about 660.000 tons of hazardous waste per year, from which about 39,000 tons are exported. The amount of hazardous waste with unknown disposal is about 20,000 tons.

The legislative framework for the regulation of hazardous waste is the Pollution Control Act (1981) and the Product Control Act of (1976). The Regulation Concerning Hazardous Waste (1994) is the main regulation concerning hazardous waste. It makes anyone in possession of hazardous waste responsible for ensuring that it does not cause pollution or injury to human beings or animals. It also obliges enterprises generating more than 1 kg hazardous waste to deliver it to approved systems for handling of hazardous waste at least once a year. The regulation requires anyone who wants to handle hazardous waste to obtain a permit. Furthermore it obliges municipalities to ensure that they have adequate facilities for receiving hazardous waste from household and enterprises possessing small quantities of hazardous waste. There are also specific regulations regulating different types of hazardous waste e.g. PCB, CFC, waste oils and batteries.

Special return systems for lead batteries and waste oils in which the industry has been given responsibility for ensuring recovery of their products when they become waste has been established. The government also is considering establishing new special return systems for waste from electric and electronic products, from buildings and installations, from packaging used for hazardous waste, from Nickel Cadmium batteries and from waste containing PCB.

The Norwegian Waste Management Company Ltd. (NOAH), which is jointly owned by the Government and nine large industrial companies, was established in 1991. It shall ensure that Norway has solutions for handling of all types of hazardous waste generated in Norway.

In the late 1980s, Norwegian environmental authorities started an in depth mapping of land contaminated with hazardous and toxic substances. Remedial actions have taken place and acute danger to health is taken care of and the risk of severe environmental problems is significantly reduced. Substantial work has been done to develop methods and means to efficiently handle contaminated land. There has been established a programme to ensure that contaminated land will not represent a risk for serious environmental problems in the future. According to the polluter pays principle, this work will be at cost of the contaminator.

Norway generates about 14 million tons of waste per year. 4,7 million tons are waste from mining activities; 3,6 million tons are waste from building and construction activities, mainly consisting of soil, stones and concrete; and 660.000 tons are hazardous waste (See Chapter 20). 1,2 million tons of the waste is domestic waste, while 3,3 million tons is industrial waste. The rest de-rives from different private and public activities.

The legislative framework for the regulation of waste is the Pollution Control Act of 13 March 1981 and the Product Control Act of 11 June 1976. Besides regulating the fundamental questions related to waste management, the Pollution Control Act is to a large extent an enabling act which gives the authorities legal basis to give regulations or make individual decisions ensuring an effective implementation of the act. The Product Control Act gives the authorities legal basis to give regulations or make individual decisions e.g. concerning return and deposit schemes, recycling and treatment of waste, in relation to products. In addition to the two acts there are specific regulations regulating different types of waste and different questions related to management of waste.

The Pollution Control Act has a general prohibition against littering and makes anyone violating the prohibition responsible for whatever clean-up may be necessary. The act gives the municipalities responsibility for collection and treatment of domestic waste. The municipalities' costs related to management of waste shall be fully covered through waste management fees. The fees may, however, be differentiated when this may stimulate waste reduction and increased recovery of waste. The municipalities are obliged to draw up waste management plans for reduction and management of all waste generated in the municipalities. The act makes the industry responsible for managing its own waste. The waste shall be brought to a lawful waste facility unless it is recycled or used in some other way. Specific conditions for waste treatment and recycling are laid down in the individual discharge permits given to larger industrial activities. The act states that anyone operating a facility for storage and treatment of waste must have a permit. The permit normally lays down conditions concerning inter alia transport, treatment, recycling and storage of waste.

A main priority in Norway's waste management policy is to increase the industry's responsibility for the waste generated by their products. During the last years there has been established special return systems for different types of packaging, lead batteries and tyres. In the packaging field establishment of systems for corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, metal, beverage carton and glass will ensure collection and recovery of all types of packaging. These return systems have been established as a result of agreements between the authorities and the industry where the industry takes the responsibility for ensuring environmental sound treatment of their products when they end up as waste. Some of the agreements have been supplied by regulations or economic tools to strengthen them. In addition to these return systems, we also have a system for collection and recycling of paper. It is currently being evaluated whether to also establish return systems for among others waste from electric and electronic products and waste from buildings and installations.

To ensure that landfills and incineration plants in the municipalities operate under satisfying environmental standards, there have been introduced considerably stricter regulations and follow-up measures for new landfills and existing incineration plants in recent years. Plans for upgrading of existing landfills have also been made.

To ensure secure and proper waste management it is important to impart information and knowledge. The Norwegian Resource Centre for Waste Management and Recycling (NORSAS), which is jointly owned by the Government, the Confederation of Norwegian Industry (NHO) and the Nowegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (Kommunenes Sentralforbund), has as its main task to provide information and knowledge to municipalities, industry and others taking part in waste management.

To ensure secure and proper waste management it is also important to get a full overview over how the waste is currently being managed. For this reason a regulation concerning registration of waste management has newly been adopted.

Low and intermediate level waste is presently conditioned and stored at IFE. About 2000 drums and boxes are stored at IFE's facility in Kjeller and about 1000 drums, containing small amounts of long lived radionuclides such as plutonium, have been buried at the site. The latter waste will be retrieved and transferred to the new storage and disposal facility when this is completed in 1997-98.

A process for the selection of a suitable site for a repository of low and intermediate level waste in Norway has been under way since 1989. This process has resulted in the selection of a concept for a combined storage and disposal facility and the selection of the Himdalen site which is located not far from IFE's waste management facilities in Kjeller.

It is estimated that an equivalent of about 10 000 drums of low and intermediate level waste with a total activity of approximately 200 Tbq including about 50g of plutonium will have been generated by the year 2000. This waste will be stored at the Himdalen disposal facility in a hard rock formation about 50 m below ground level.

The Norwegian Assistance Programme for Nuclear Safety is focused on measures to increase nuclear safety and prevent radioactive pollution, primarily in North-West Russia. A total of USD 35 million has been earmarked for projects in 1995 and 1996. Approximately USD 15 million is expected to be available in 1997. A number of projects has been identified in four priority areas:
Safety measures at nuclear installations
Management and storage of spent uranium fuel and radioactive waste
Radioactive pollution of the Northern Seas
Arms-related environmental hazards
With this Programme the Norwegian Government wishes to address one of the most serious threats to security, human health and the environment. Emphasis is put on increasing international co-operation and co-ordination.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, in collaboration with other ministries concerned, will review existing radiation protection legislation with a view to updating and adapting rules and regulations in the light of technological and other developments.

CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Listed below are the environmental expenditures for each year contained in the budget. In addition to these figures the budget contains information regarding expenditures which are motivated mainly and partly by environmental considerations.

1992: USD 925 million
1993: USD 893 million
1994: USD 805 million
1995: USD 928 million
1996: USD 968 million

NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS:

In Norway the following environmental taxes are levied:

CO2 taxes on coke and (energy purposes only), petrol and mineral oil. A CO2 tax i also levied on the use of mineral oil and gas within the offshore sector in the North Sea. There are exemptions from the tax duty (please refer to Ch. 9 for further details).
SO2 tax on mineral oil. There are exemptions from the tax duty.
Tax differentiation between leaded and unleaded petrol.
Tax-based deposit-return systems for cars to be wrecked, beverage containers and lubricating oil.
Taxes on fertilizers and pesticides.
Noise charges on air transport.

In 1994, the Government appointed a Green Tax Commission with the mandate to review the possibility of a shift in taxation from taxes on labour to further improved pricing of the environment and natural resources. The Commission presented its report "Green Taxes - Policies for a Better Environment and High Employment" in June 1996, proposing a number of new and increased environmental taxes. After a hearing process, the Government will present a follow-up of the Commission's report to the Parliament during 1997.

ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES: The above-mentioned Green Tax Commission also recommended in its report that a number of subsidies with environmentally negative effects should be abolished or reduced gradually.

Norwegian development assistance over and above the 0.7 per cent target for ODA amounts to between USD 400-500 million annually. Since 1987, the Government has given high priority to the need to integrate environment and development issues. In 1993, a new policy document on the follow-up to UNCED was adopted by the Ministry of Development Co-operation. The main recommendation is that priority should be given to support the partner countries' own efforts to follow-up Agenda 21. Special emphasis is being given to the following issues:

1. A more ecologically sound management of natural resources, particularly through supporting more sustainable development in the primary sector.

2. Population and family planning

3. Development of methods and planning tools which can facilitate better integration of environment and development objectives.

4. Strengthen institutional capacity and support human resources development.

5. Environmental programmes.

Funds for sustainable development have been gradually increasing: since 1992, approximately NOK 1.2 billion, about 16.8 per cent of Norwegian ODA, has been disbursed for sustainable development activities, including population programmes. Adjustment programmes and Norway's assistance in this area continue to focus on the programmes' effects on income distribution and on the social situation in the countries. Norway also urges that environmental considerations should be increasingly taken into account in the design of adjustment programmes.

Norway regularly reports to the OECD/DAC on ODA. Statistical information is therefore organized according to DAC sector codes - see attached table, which indicates the sectoral distribution of the above-mentioned funds.

The Global Environment Facility

NOK 165 million was contributed to the GEF during the pilot phase. For 1994-97, GEF 1 a commitment has been made in the order of NOK 220 million.

Several administrative and economic measures are being applied to promote environmentally sound technology (EST). In the fiscal policy area, the Norwegian government established in 1990 a broad national programme for environmentally sound technology. The aim of the programme is to create a foundation for both industrial growth and prevention of environmental degradation. The administration of the programme is carried out in close co-operation with the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO). The programme will focus on research and testing/demonstration projects respectively.

In the field of research, the Norwegian Research Council has established a new and more general environmental technology programme (NORMIL 2000) as well as a separate technology programme for reduction of greenhouse gases. In the field of testing/demonstration projects, the State Pollution Control Authority contributes to the development of environmental technology. In the future, the programme will to a greater extent concentrate on development of technology in order to promote and develop more environmentally sound products. In addition to this programme there are other projects which promote the development of environmental technology, especially in the fields of transport and energy. Several economic measures, including fiscal policy, are being applied to promote environmentally sound technology. Most of them are managed at district and municipal levels.

The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT), the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) and the World Cleaner Production society (WCPS) are the main sources of information at national level. There is, however, no national register with information as to who is able to deliver or develop the technology or services necessary to solve certain environmental problems. Thus, the Government is encouraging the business sectors/industry to establish a register of EST similar to NORSAS' register on waste industry. Norway has also contributed to the OECD "Best Practice Guide for Cleaner production".

Norwegian development assistance is promoting environmentally sound technology in all relevant projects. Much emphasis is put on projects with labour intensive methods. The Norwegian government finances, for example, the transfer of expertise programmes on waste minimization and cleaner production strategies in Central and Eastern Europe and China. The Norwegian Society of Chartered Engineers (NIF) has the overall responsibility for managing these programmes for a 2-4 years period. The programmes aim at implementing economically profitable and environmentally favourable restructuring of industrial processes in 200-350 relevant production companies in each country involved. In Central and Eastern Europe the programmes are being implemented in co-operation between the Norwegian Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Industry and/or the Ministry of Environment in the country concerned. The most remarkable experience gained so far is that it is possible to reduce waste by 30-40% with practically no extra investment. NORAD is focusing on strengthening existing EST centres in developing countries such as the CSE in India, CEA in Sri Lanka, BCAS in Bangladesh and the regional centre AIT in Bangkok. The Norwegian Government is in the process of increasing funding to various environmental projects in Asia. Baseline studies, resource assessments, institutional strengthening and management of technology will be essential parts of the programme.

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: Norway has established a network of competence for the transfer of environmental knowledge and capacity-building to developing countries and countries in transition.

Science is an important instrument in producing the knowledge needed to make wise and sound decisions for achieving a more sustainable development. There are still many knowledge-gaps to be filled. The Government therefore still gives priority to science for a sustainable development.

The Research Council of Norway gives priority to environmental research aimed at more sustainable value-adding. Threats to the environment must be identified as early as possible, and work on environmentally-friendly products must be further developed. Priority is given to environmentally-oriented research for marine and arctic environments.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY: At the governmental level responsibilities for science related to sustainable development are organized as follows: The Ministry of Environment has a direct responsibility for environmental research and an indirect overall responsibility for integration of environmental considerations and environmental research themes in research funded directly by other ministries and sectors. The Ministry of Education, Research and Church affairs has a special responsibility for basic and long-term research as well as for higher education. Other ministries hold responsibility for environmental research within their areas.

One of the most important infrastructural changes has been the reorganization of the Norwegian research council system. In 1993, five research councils were merged into one: The Research Council of Norway. One of the new Council's six divisions is the Division of Environment and Development. This indicates the integration of the UNCED recommendations at the very basic level of Norwegian research. The Research Council produces bi-annual surveys on their activities relevant to UNCED. Today there are more than 90 research programmes, each with 5-10 projects relevant to Agenda 21. In September 1996 the Research Council published a Strategic Plan for Research on Environment and Development. The UNCED and post-UNCED documents have played major roles during the development of the strategic plan.

Universities and state colleges have given increased attention to science for sustainable development. In general this has been done through integrating environment and development issues into their ordinary activities through establishing courses and research activities such as "environmental and developmental economics", "environmental physics" and "environmental technology" etc. All universities have established interdisciplinary centres for environment and development.