Municipalities - Practical Example

Health and environmental municipalities

A cross-disciplinary dialogue is needed between the municipal and government institutions that are concerned with environmental and health issues. This can be a stimulating starting-point for participation in the work of protecting the ecosystems, preserving cultural and biodiversity and building up better health protection and protection against illness and damage to people and the environment. This is the reason why Sandnes applied to join the WHO Health City Project in 1992. As a condition of membership, Sandnes took the initiative in 1994, in partnership with the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, in establishing a network of health and environmental municipalities.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs provide financial and professional aid to the network of health and environmental municipalities. Fifteen municipalities plus the county of Østfold are part of this network. The project will run for six years and is based on the World Health Organisation (WHO)´s project: “Health for Everyone in the Year 2000”.

Sandnes: Health and environment

Sandnes´ vision is to be an active, vigorous municipality where growth and development are based on well-being, safety, health and environmental awareness. The motive force is a close interaction between private individuals, organisations, volunteers, the business sector and the municipality. In 1992, the municipality of Sandnes applied to join and was accepted for the WHO Health City project. One of things Sandnes undertook to do was to establish a national network of health and environmental municipalities.

Seven projects have been started in Sandnes as part of the health and environment programme. Some are being run by the local authorities, while others have many participants. The motto of one of the projects involving a large number of people is "In Sandnes it is healthy to stay home”. The goals of this project are to achieve a good indoor climate in housing, housing with good outdoor areas and housing that saves energy. These goals will be achieved by transferring knowledge and building up expertise and through individual projects to gain experience. Another joint project with the motto “In Sandnes we pedal for our lives” aims to encourage people to use bicycles in their free time and to cycle to work. A number of specific steps have been taken to this end, one being a special “city bicycle” launched by the authorities.