Norway is cracking down on transport emissions. By 2025 all new cars sold in Norway must be zero-emission vehicles (electric or hydrogen), by 2026 greenhouse gas emitting vessels will be banned from entering the famous fjords, and by 2030 the country aims to electrify all domestic flights, encouraging fossil free domestic aviation by 2040.
Norway has the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, and with these targets on the horizon the fund is standing firm on its environmentally conscious investments despite recent political backlash against green initiatives. A recognized global leader in innovation and adaptation, the country’s industrial structure has changed radically in the past 40-50 years and Norway is ready to make the necessary shifts. To this end, Norway is pursuing an ambitious climate policy together with the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared with the reference year 1990. Norway also signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, an initiative launched in 2021 at COP26 aimed at galvanizing the global tourism industry to take meaningful and coordinated action against climate change.
Innovation Norway, a Norwegian government agency and company that promotes innovation and development in Norwegian business and industry, is actively contributing to Norway’s climate goals and the commitments made under the Glasgow Declaration. This year, they are also partnering with the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Tomorrow’s Air to host Innovate for Tomorrow: The Climate Action Summit, a transformative opportunity for 50 leaders in climate, travel, finance, technology and innovation to discuss and commit to greater investments in climate action and the implementation of climate positive strategies and business models.
The following sections offer a profile of Norwegian companies integrating tourism with green technology to help preserve the country’s breathtaking natural beauty and support climate goals.
Aviation
As part of its ambitious climate strategy, the Norwegian government pledged in 2018 to achieve fossil-free aviation by 2040 and electrify all domestic flights by 2030.
Avinor is a Norwegian airline operator taking this challenge to heart. Avinor manages airports, controls air traffic, and ensures safe and efficient movement of aircrafts for both domestic and international flights. The company promotes sustainable aviation fuel to reduce the impact of aviation and has invested in infrastructure to support electric and hybrid-electric aircrafts. They have also facilitated the introduction of biofuels into several Norwegian airports, making Norway a leader in this area.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see Avinor transform the aviation industry” says Hege Barnes, Managing Director at Innovation Norway. “Innovation Norway is proud to support Avinor as they set a global standard for fossil-free aviation and demonstrate that innovative partnerships can lead to environmental progress.”
In April Avinor announced that they will provide a test arena for zero and low emissions electric planes. This test arena will establish test facilities all across the country and will benefit airlines like Widerøe who are working to bring electric aviation to passengers by 2026. Collaboration across the aviation industry is apparent in Norway as partnerships like those between Avinor, Innovation Norway and Wideroe show that the green transition cannot happen without unified effort.
Maritime
With the second largest coastline in the world, Norway's fjords are its main attraction, but by 2026 all greenhouse gas emitting vessels will be banned from entering it World Heritage Fjords Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.
With this deadline fast approaching, Norwegian ferry and cruise companies are making remarkable changes to ensure emission free fjords by 2026. A recent Tomorrow’s Air blog takes an in-depth look at the advancements takes an in-depth look at the advancements Norwegian cruise line, Hurtigruten, is making to build the world's first zero-emission cruise ship: Sea Zero.
Hurtigruten is partnering with VARD, a shipbuilder headquartered in Ålesund, to create this first-of-a-kind vessel and hybridize the rest of its fleet. The company was established in 2012 and is known for its innovative designs and specialized vessels. According to recent news their vision is to lead the maritime industry in environmental stewardship.
Another company taking zero-emissions to the next level is Norway’s Best. The Norwegian travel company offers a wide range of tourism services in Norway, and their fjord cruises are very popular. . The Norway’s Best fleet includes modern, fully electric carbon fiber vessels that reduce noise and emissions contributing to the conservation of the fjord’s serene atmosphere and local wildlife. The charging stations are located at key docking points where they also manage waste sustainably.
As Norway works with the EU towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% they set a global example of environmental stewardship. The work of setting goals and reducing emissions is part of a broader transformation underway in the EU: “The EU emissions goal for 2040 means systemic change for the EU energy system in 16 years.” Says David Hone, author of Putting the Genie Back and Chief Climate Advisor at Shell. “This is a stark contrast to the path followed over the past 20 years where emissions have been progressively squeezed through a variety of measures.”
Read more of David’s analysis of how the EU must move beyond gradual adjustments to a more radical overhaul of the entire energy infrastructure in his blog, here.
Mr. Hone will share his perspective as a keynote speaker at Innovate for Tomorrow, the climate action summit hosted by Tomorrow’s Air, ATTA and Innovation Norway, where he will share integrated scenarios to envision the future and the various pathways we might take. Travel and tourism, an industry which makes up 10% of global GDP will play an important role in supporting the transition.