5 Nuclear preparedness in relation to adverse events and accidents
Strategic objective
Norway aims to minimise the likelihood of radiation and nuclear incidents that may pose risks to human health and the environment, and to ensure effective preparedness to manage and reduce the consequences of such incidents should they occur.
Through the Crisis Committee for Nuclear and Radiological Preparedness and anchored in the Royal Decree of August 2013, Norway has established organisation and areas of responsibility for nuclear preparedness in order to ensure that prompt and effective decisions are made in the acute phase of nuclear incidents, and to facilitate effective coordination of preparedness and management across different sectors. White Paper 5 (2023–2024) ‘A Resilient Health Emergency Preparedness’ points out that experiences from exercises, pandemic management, changes in central health administration, and developments in the international security-political situation give grounds to review current nuclear preparedness in order to ensure that it is organised and functions appropriately. Therefore, the Royal Decree will be reviewed again in 2025.
Norwegian nuclear preparedness is nationwide, cross-sectoral and civil-military, and encompasses both accidents and incidents resulting from deliberate actions in peacetime, during security crises, and in armed conflicts, and has been developed based on six defining scenarios.
In the event of an incident, Norway will follow its international notification obligations, as nuclear incidents will often have cross-border effects and may, if necessary, request assistance from the international community.
All organisations/enterprises that carry out activities involving radiation in Norway are obligated under the regulations to have preparedness and crisis management arrangements in place to protect employees, the public and the environment.
Norway will employ a learning approach to prevent and develop its preparedness. In accordance with its obligations, Norway will also be an active supporter of other countries in preventing and providing assistance regarding incidents abroad. Norway carries out national surveillance so that any incident in Norway or abroad will be quickly detected, enabling a rapid assessment of the need to implement measures in order to reduce the consequences of an incident.
Relevant strategies, plans and programmes
Maintain and further develop the Norwegian notification system and programme for national and international notification in accordance with the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and Norway’s bilateral notification agreements.
The Civil Preparedness System and the Preparedness System for the Armed Forces constitute the Norwegian Emergency Preparedness System.
Nuclear preparedness, through the Crisis Committee for Nuclear and Radiological Preparedness (Royal Decree – Mandate for and composition of the Crisis Committee for Nuclear and Radiological Preparedness with advisors, as well as the mandate for the County Governor), ensures that there are distinct areas of responsibility so that prompt and effective decisions are made in an emergency situation, and facilitates effective coordination of preparedness and response in relevant sectors through a coordinated plan.