7 Economic and administrative consequences
The Report to the Storting includes Norway’s new action plan for biodiversity with National targets to the global targets laid down in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework based on Norway’s needs and prerequisites and sets out the measures that will contribute towards target attainment. Overall, this will contribute to effective attainment of national and international targets and commitments. It will also contribute to better safeguarding of nature and facilitate sustainable use of biodiversity in Norway and globally to the benefit of society.
Nature policies affect all areas of society and all sectors, both directly and indirectly. Many of the measures addressed in this Report to the Storting have already been adopted and some have even been implemented. Through this action plan, the Government is also announcing some new measures. Several of the points laid down in the action plan are not only government responsibilities but will necessitate collaboration with, and efforts from, local and regional authorities, as well as trade and industry.
The local authorities manage around 83 per cent of land areas in mainland Norway. A successful policy will depend on the local community’s efforts subject to the policy frameworks we establish together.
Land areas are a significant asset for many municipalities in rural Norway. Sustainable management of nature lays the foundations for jobs and development. Nature is in itself an important reason in many people determining where to live and nature also forms the basis for jobs in e.g. agriculture and forestry, as well as industries related to cabins, tourism and travel. Proximity to nature, experiences and close-knit local communities make rural municipalities attractive and unique. In the White Paper to the Storting no. 27 (2022–2023) A good life in all of Norway – district policy for the future it is emphasised that smaller places should be developed with unique characteristics to underpin local identity and cultural heritage. Attractive surroundings and access to nature are also qualities that influence identity, public health and the environment. The management of natural land is therefore a central objective for many local authorities in rural Norway. At the same time, natural land is also important in a regional and national context to preserve valuable nature or to use the land in the production of renewable energy.
The measures presented by the Government in the report have been drawn up with the aim of safeguarding local governance of natural land and to provide rural local authorities with the support to ensure development and viable local communities. This is expressed through measures that contribute to nature with good integrity, which forms the basis for jobs and local value. It is also expressed in measures that underpin local management of natural land.
The Government’s starting point is that the action plan must be implemented within the prevailing budgets at any time. The Government will review the economic consequences of any new measures in annual budgets. The annual budgetary follow-up will depend on economic developments and the budget situation, among other things.
For measures in the report that need to be investigated and assessed, it will only be necessary to describe economic and administrative consequences in connection with the investigation itself.
The following provides a further assessment of measures and instruments in selected areas.
The National target linked to target 14 of the KMGBF to ensure that the value of biodiversity must be better integrated in decision-making processes and, by building on established processes linked to the Menus of Measures and Nature accounting, the Government will present a Regular Review to the Storting every four years on the status, target attainment and measures implemented under the NBSAP. This will incur administrative costs in connection with the preparation of the review, but this cost is expected to be limited.
The National target towards global target 1, which aims to reduce the number of development projects that contribute to loss of areas of especially high ecological integrity, means that it is even more necessary to plan for transformation, reuse and densification of existing development areas. In addition, the target to reduce the number of development projects that contribute to the loss of land of especially high ecological integrity will likely mean that some development projects cannot go ahead. The social cost of reducing the number of development projects will depend on the developments that are prioritised and the land that is being developed. At the same time, the loss of nature and associated costs can therefore be reduced. Better safeguarding of nature and maintaining nature’s ability to provide ecosystem services could lead to positive public utility overall.
The principles for sustainable land management could have consequences for local authorities, the Government and private sector stakeholders, but these consequences will depend on the measures that are implemented to follow up on the principles. The principles are based on existing principles, with the exception of the principle on prioritised development purposes (renewable power production, power lines, defence and critical digital infrastructure). The use of this principle could mean that development projects for these purposes will be assigned greater emphasis in the event of conflicting development projects, such as the development of transport systems, cabins, residential properties, etc. On the other hand, a set of principles would lead to greater predictability and provide grounds to cover key societal needs both nationally and locally, while also preventing limited land resources from being used for purposes with lower public utility and inefficient land use. The principles will also help to conserve nature and agricultural land that provide great value to society.
The measures to enhance expertise and capacity in local authorities, explore regional task relief teams, facilitate local authority networks, provide coordinated guidance and review changes to the Norwegian Planning and Building Act could have some administrative consequences. On the other hand, the measures could result in increased efficiency and quality in land-use planning, which in turn will yield public utility. The economic and administrative costs associated with task relief teams in regional authorities and any proposed changes to the Norwegian Planning and Building Act will be clarified as part of the investigation and review efforts.
Clarification of the extent of land and ocean areas that have been degraded or destroyed on land and in coastal and ocean regions will result in increased resource consumption on the part of government authorities, even though it will be carried out based on existing knowledge of the integrity of Norwegian nature. The costs for the actual restoration measures will depend on the restoration measures that are prioritised. An increased focus on restoration of nature will lead to increased resource use, especially costs to implement more specific restoration measures, as well as the environmental management’s work on guidance, coordination and maintaining an overview of degraded and restored nature. At the same time, increased efforts will lead to public benefits by maintaining and enhancing ecosystem services. Like today, restoration of nature as part of development projects will remain the responsibility of the developer. Guidance, professional reviews and assessments of legislative and regulatory changes will take place within the constraints of prevailing budgets. There would also be some administrative costs incurred if changes need to be implemented in laws and regulations.
The Government’s Menu of Measures for forests sets out the targets for ecological integrity in forests, reflecting the trade-off between sustainable use and management for woodland conservation areas and other forests in Norway. The targets will help simplify and systematise the collaboration between affected sectors and could lead to clearer and more predictable woodland management. The measures in the menu are primarily based on prevailing policies and will, as a starting point, have minimal consequences for affected parties. In the short term, knowledge collection and various investigations could lead to some administrative duties for relevant government enterprises. Skills development measures will affect private sector stakeholders such as forest owner organisations.
Measures to promote the transition to peat-free products will entail some costs to run a working group. These will be covered within the prevailing budget framework of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment. Attempts will be made to minimise any negative consequences for current peat producers by stimulating transition and the measure will have a positive impact on the waste industry and the biogas market may be expanded for producers.