OECD Environmental Performance Review of Norway 2022 - Virtual review mission presentation

Photo: John Yngvar Larsson

NORWAY’S ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW 2022

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS Since 1992, the OECD has conducted more than 100 Environmental Performance Reviews (EPRs).

Nearly all OECD countries have been reviewed three times. Norway conducted three EPRs in 1993, 2001 and 2011.

PEER LEARNING

Encourage performance improvement and policy reforms through benchmarking and cross-country comparison

GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY

Spark national debate on environmental goals and how to best achieve them

POLICY DIALOGUE

Encourage peer learning through the exchange of best practices

The EPRs encourage gradual convergence towards the best performing countries.

P E E R R E VI E WS Peer reviews, where each country’s policy is examined by fellow members on an equal basis, have been used at the OECD for more than 50 years. Norway’s economic, fiscal, social and environmental performance has also been analysed in many sectoral studies and territorial reviews.

PEER REVIEWS

Wellbeing in Norway is high; GDP per capita is among the top-ranking countries and the country scores well in measures of inclusiveness. Several challenges must be addressed, however, if this good standing is to be sustained. The economy is vulnerable to trade risks. Also, though property markets and related credit appear to be heading for a soft landing, risks remain. Norway has substantial opportunities for more effective public spending remain, and exploiting these will become more important as fiscal space narrows. Productivity growth remains low, requiring attention to business policy.

Employment rates among young and middle age cohorts have declined, and despite some positive trends many among older cohorts retire early. This is eroding Norway’s otherwise good record of strong labour supply and socio-economic inclusiveness through jobs. Chapter 2 of this Survey looks at this, and other aspects of Norway’s labour market. Policy issues covered include sick leave compensation and disability benefit, the old-age pension’s role in early retirement, education and skills, and immigrant integration.

SPECIAL FEATURE: EMPLOYMENT

Northern Sparsely Populated Areas

The Development Assistance Committee: Enabling effective development

Northern Sparsely Populated Areas

December 2019

9HSTCQE*faddjh+

The Economic Benefits of Air Quality Improvements in Arctic Council Countries

OECD Territorial Reviews

DECEMBER 2019

OECD Development Co‑operation Peer Reviews NORWAY 2019

ISSN 0376-6438 2019 SUBSCRIPTION (18 ISSUES) ISBN 978-92-64-50339-7

NORWAY

This work is published on the OECD iLibrary, which gathers all OECD books, periodicals and statistical databases.

Visit www.oecd-ilibrary.org for more information.

Volume 2019/23 December 2019

NORWAY 2019

TERRITORIAL REVIEWS

The Economic Benefits of Air Quality Improvements in Arctic Council Countries

Volume 2019/23

Consult this publication on line at https://doi.org/10.1787/c217a266-en.

OECD Development Co‑operation Peer Reviews

OECD Economic Surveys NORWAY

OECD Territorial Reviews

NORWAY

OECD Economic Surveys

OECD Economic Surveys

SECTORAL ANALYSES

The OECD promotes a whole-of-government approach drawing on a broad range of expertise.

N O R W AY’ S R E V I E W The forth Environmental Performance Review of Norway assesses the country’s progress towards sustainable development and green growth, with a focus on sustainable land management and its impacts on biodiversity, nature and climate change. It evaluates Norway’s track-record against its national and international environmental objectives.

A N A LYS I S

Provide an independent, facts-based analysis of Norway’s environmental performance

B E N CH MA R K I N G

Provide cross-country comparisons. How does Norway perform compared to other OECD countries?

BEST PRACTICES & LESSONS LEARNED

Identify success stories, good practices and challenges.

How could good practices be scaled up? What lessons can be learned from other countries or regions?

Source: Kartverket / Kommunal- og moderniseringsdepartementet

The review provides targeted policy recommendations.

KEY ANALYTICAL QUESTIONS

OBJECTIVES Have they been clearly defined? Are they based on an analysis of costs and benefits? Are they measurable?

ACT IO NS

RE S ULTS

INTENTIONS

What has been done to reach the objectives?

Was it the most efficient and effective way to get there?

Do results match expectations? If yes, what are the drivers of success? If not, what obstacles should be overcome?

What are the plans to achieve the objectives?

If results are not satisfactory, what actions are planned to correct the trajectory?

Within the context of Norway’s historical environmental record, natural resource endowment, economic and social conditions and in comparison with other countries.

CO N TE N T ASSESSMENT & RECOMMENDATIONS Main findings and policy recommendations in each area covered by the review. This section is approved by consensus with OECD countries.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

Towards green, inclusive growth

Sustainable land use

The first chapter is streamlined across all reports. It includes a summary of key trends and an assessment of the environmental effectiveness and economic efficiency of the policy mix, including fiscal and economic instruments, regulatory and voluntary instruments.

This topic was selected by the Norwegian authorities in consultation with the OECD Secretariat.

ACTIONS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT 2011 REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESULTS ACHIEVED

Flexible content responding to specific needs Tailored and targeted policy recommendations Access to data

ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS Climate change

Waste and materials

Air quality

Biodiversity

Freshwater resources

Oceans

The review provides an overview of key environmental trends and of Norway’s progress towards achieving national and international environmental targets.

GREEN, INCLUSIVE GROWTH POLICY MIX & COHERENCE How does Norway mobilise investment for a green, low-carbon and circular economy?

How green is Norway’s tax system?

Are there subsidies and incentives that are harmful to the environment?

How well do businesses comply with environmental regulations?

Are objectives clearly defined?

How does Norway measure progress in aligned policymaking?

Which are the trade-offs and synergies between environmental, economic and social goals and policies?

How green and inclusive is Norway's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic?

The review identifies opportunities for improving policy implementation, effectiveness and coherence.

SUSTAINABLE LAND USE This thematic chapter assesses Norway’s progress towards sustainable land use and efforts to align land use with climate and biodiversity goals. It includes a systematic analysis of Norway’s institutional and policy frameworks for land use management.

How effective are the policies in place in ensuring a sustainable use of land?

Is sustainability of land use mainstreamed across all sectors?

How could Norway enhance the sustainable use of ecosystems and promote nature-based solutions?

What does Norway do to promote sustainable land use beyond its borders?

Source: National Atlas for Norway © Norwegian Mapping Authority

The review provides targeted advice and good practices for the sustainable use of land.

TIMELINE

EPR virtual review mission

Policy mission to discuss main findings and recommendations at high level

Meeting with OECD countries to discuss Norway’s review

Preparatory phase: information collection

Jun 2021

LAUNCH

20-24

Sep

2nd week of

Dec

16

Feb Mar/Apr 2022

VIRTUAL REVIEW MISSION 20-24 September 2021 The OECD review team will meet with government and non-government stakeholders for an open dialogue and discussion on Norway’s environmental performance in the last decade.

This will complement collected information and provide the basis for the drafting of the review.

What has worked well and why? What has not worked so well and why? What are priority areas for improvement?

What lessons can be learned for the future?

What do the national and local governments, businesses and civil society need to do to improve Norway’s environmental performance?

The review mission will gather examples of success stories, best practices, challenges and identify potential recommendations.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS Central government

Regional government

Departments and agencies in charge of environmental policymaking and implementation Other departments and agencies

Local government

Business organisations Trade unions

Environmental NGOs Independent experts

The review draws on a large variety of information sources and diversity of viewpoints.

OECD REVIEW TEAM Reviewing countries

OECD Secretariat Nathalie Girouard Head of Division, ENV/EPI Strategic Oversight

Finland

Ivana Capozza EPR Programme Manager Strategic Oversight Roger Martini Senior Policy Analyst Sustainable land use Julia Wanjiru EPR Co-ordinator Green, inclusive growth Carla Bertuzzi Statistician

United States

Fiona Smyth Assistant CONTACTS:

julia.wanjiru@oecd.org fiona.smyth@oecd.org

Photo: Andreas Trepte