Natural resources and the environment 2001

Although emissions of pollutants have been reduced, the state of the environment is still causing concern. This is the main conclusion of this years edition of Natural Resources and the Environment from Statistics Norway.

Adverse impacts on the natural environment are also a threat to humanity. A number of measures have therefore been implemented to reduce pollution and unsustainable utilization of natural resources. The question is, however, whether these measures are sufficient to reverse the present trend. Statistics Norway is tracking developments by means of a number of environmental indicators and our findings have been published in the book Natural Resources and the Environment 2001. Considerable effort has been made to reduce pollution from manufacturing industries, agriculture, households and traffic. Statistics show that emissions of many substances have been greatly reduced, even though there are some exceptions. However, the environment is still under threat in many areas, and it is hoped that reductions in emissions will bring some improvement.

High greenhouse gas emissions

Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions dropped slightly in 2000 after a rise of 6 per cent from 1990 to 2000. However, it is unlikely that this is the beginning of a lasting trend. Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, Norwegian emissions may rise by no more than 1 per cent from 1990 to 2010, but projections show that Norways aggregate emissions of greenhouse gases may rise by about 24 per cent from 1990 to 2010 unless steps are taken to reduce them. Construction of the three planned gas-fired power plants at Kårstø, Kollsnes and Skogn will cause emissions to rise even further, by about 12 per cent compared with 1990. Emissions trading and the inclusion of carbon accumulated in forests in the greenhouse gas inventory will help to meet Norways commitments.

Improvement in the ozone layer expected

There have been substantial reductions in emissions of ozone-depleting substances after imports of these substances were brought to an end. Nevertheless, it will take time before the ozone layer recovers, as emissions from old products are still taking place and since earlier emissions continue to react with ozone in the atmosphere for some time.

Inputs to the North Sea are decreasing

Norwegian inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen to the North Sea (from the border with Sweden to Lindesnes at the southernmost tip of Norway) have been reduced by 67 and 17 per cent respectively from 1985 to 1999.

Larger discharges of oil

Discharges of oil from petroleum and offshore activities have risen considerably from 1993 to 1999. This is the result of operational discharges, which increase as oil production has increased.

Trends for environmentally hazardous chemicals uncertain

Emissions of the most environmentally hazardous chemicals from Norwegian industry have been reduced over the last 15 years. However, the total consumption of chemicals has risen and new types of chemicals have come into use. It is therefore uncertain whether the overall impact on health and the environment has been reduced.

Better waste management

The total quantities of waste generated in Norway have been relatively stable in recent years. Emissions from waste have decreased due to more recycling and the use of improved technology for landfilling and incineration of waste.

700 000 people exposed to air pollution

It has been estimated that in 1995 about 700 000 people in Norway were exposed to air pollution that entailed a health risk. There has been a slight decrease in emissions of NOx and SO2 in the 10 largest towns in Norway over the last 10 years. Emissions of particulate matter, however, have risen slightly.

Loss of wilderness-like areas

During the twentieth century, the proportion of wilderness-like areas in Norway was reduced from 40 to 12 per cent of the land area. This trend is continuing, although on a smaller scale than previously. Wilderness-like areas are important to biological diversity, and the preservation of this diversity on a global scale is one of the greatest challenges we face.

Development near the shoreline

Building is still taking place close to the shoreline in spite of the tight restrictions on construction laid down by the authorities. Statistics Norway measures this trend by calculating the proportion of the coastline that is less than 100 m from a building. From 1985 to 2000, 1.2 per cent of Norways undeveloped coastline was built on. The change was greatest in the southernmost counties where much of the coast had already been built on, and the decrease in undeveloped area was greatest in Telemark (3.7 per cent), Vest-Agder (2.6 per cent) and Rogaland (2.2 per cent).

Acidification reduced

The percentage of land area affected by acidification has decreased by 30 per cent from 1985 to today. This is largely due to a reduction in acid deposition as a result of emissions from other countries. In Norway, there has been a particularly large reduction in emissions of SO2 .

Fish stocks in danger

Several important fish stocks have reached a critically low level, and experts warn that great caution should be shown in harvesting. Of four important stocks in Norwegian fisheries, only the stock of Norwegian spring-spawning herring is well above the precautionary fishing level.

Land resources are gradually shrinking

Norways available land resources (cultivated and cultivable area) decreased by almost 1 000 km2 or 5 per cent from 1949 to 1999 as a result of irreversible conversion of land that was already cultivated or was suitable for cultivation to non-agricultural uses. The proportion of the available land resources actually cultivated was 57 per cent in 1999, as compared with 52 per cent in 1949.

Forest resources

The volume of the growing stock has increased substantially since 1900. In recent years, only 50 to 60 per cent of the annual increment has been harvested. The type of forest has also changed greatly during this period. Clear-cutting, silviculture, drainage, the construction of forest roads, the introduction of alien species and pollution are some of the factors that have had an impact on the forest as a natural resource and on biological diversity in forests. The Norwegian monitoring programme for forest damage shows that there has been a slight improvement in the health of forests in recent years measured as crown condition.

About this book

Natural Resources and the Environment 2001 gives a more detailed review of the topics presented here. As a whole, the book provides a broad presentation of Norways natural resources and the state of the environment in the form of descriptions, analyses and statistics. The book is available on the Internet and in bookshops.