After a fantastic election, we the Green party have gained 231 representatives in 162 municipalities in addition to a total 36 regional representatives! Although there are still ongoing negotiations, our newly elected officials are well on their way to instilling new, green politics locally!

Here are some of the reasons for our breakthrough and what our municipalities have committed to:

Bodø

• Bodø will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that growth and development in the municipality is environmentally friendly. Environmental management will oversee all the municipality’s businesses. Bodø’s climate change plan will be improved and monitored closely with regard to target management within businesses. Within the year 2016, Bodø will introduce binding proposals for climate and environmental budgets and accounts following the Trondheim Model.
• Bodø’s bicycle city will continue to develop and plans for bicycle transit will be reintroduced.
• Funding for “Bypakke Bodø” will be given priority to road safety, previously abandoned bicycle transit road projects, and other collective initiatives. Any initiatives concerning increasing road capacity in Bodø will not be considered.
• There will be at least 30 charging stations for electric cars in the center within the given time frame. The municipality has set a goal for 80% of the car population to be emission free by 2019. We will work towards making Nordland’s transit electric and it will be proposed in the municipality’s agenda to NTP.
• It is the municipality’s goal to reduce individual car traffic in the city center. Work towards this goal will be reflected in public parking plans and public parking by-laws within the consideration of prices and availability. The municipality has set a goal to making at least 21% of commute pedestrian transit, bicycle transit, and public transport before 2020.
• The municipality is working towards a more enticing and lively city center. Within the given time frame the construction of new shopping centers and expansion of existing shopping centers will not be allowed.
• Bodø has a goal to make 15% of the municipality’s cafeterias and kitchens ecologically savvy and provide vegetarian alternatives.
• There is work in place to increase environmental awareness in kindergartens and schools and it is a goal that all school and kindergartens are Green Flag-certified within the given time frame.
• The municipality, in cooperation with volunteer organizations, will work towards a higher consideration for animal welfare. The parties have agreed on dismissing any use of municipal land for circuses with wild animals.

Hamar

• Plans for a climate account will be proposed. It will encourage a more concrete and offensive environmental stand on development.
• Soil conservation will be a priority for the municipality. Only the use of cultivated land that results in positives for both society and climate issues will be accepted.
• The Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Green Party, Center Party, and the regional party of Hamar (By-og bygdelista) will initiate the move towards green methods in Hamar.
• Purchase agreements must release and explain the amount of green house gas emissions for their services and acquisition of goods.
• At least 30% of food and services must be locally acquired and ecological.
• The new municipality plan will have the highest consideration for climate and environment.
• We will facilitate the passing of a separate requirement to all builders in the municipality that necessitates scientific qualifications in environmental innovation.
• The municipality will have an active involvement in the establishment of an eco-friendly society and eco-friendly cities and villages.

Haugesund

• The municipality will enforce sustainable environment and climate politics.
• Alternative learning methods will be maintained.
• The development of green spaces in the city center will be implemented.
• The municipality will take increasingly more priority of climate and environment in its agenda to build a healthier and sustainable municipality.
• The implementation of an environment management system based on ISO 14001 or corresponding evaluations will supported.
• Energy efficient measures in municipality entities, properties, and facilities will be considered promptly and appropriately implemented.
• The municipality’s transportation systems will be mapped and optimized with significant consideration for managing and lessening gas emissions.
• The municipality has a goal to improve and increase the use of public transport, increase pedestrian and bicycle roads, and gradually reduce car use in the city center.
• There will be a facilitated effort to provide more charging stations for electric cars in the city center.

Lørenskog

• The teacher population will increase after a dedicated and thorough consideration of the proposed plan at hand.
• Health services must be supported through sponsorships from the municipality or from non-profit organizations.
• The municipality’s plans will be implemented within a sustainable mindset and perspective.
• Lørenskog will remain as a separate municipality.
• No to increasing the amount of open stores on Sunday.
• The surround forest (“marka”) border will remain and top soil conservation will not be demoted to a lower prioritization in the government’s plans.
• The investigation of making Østmarka a national park will be supported.
• The municipality will prepare a binding climate account where consequences for climate and the environment are considered in all municipal planning and in municipal presentations.
• Lorenskøg will take their part of the responsibility to house refugees with granted asylum.
• There will be work towards the establishment of community gardens, parcel gardens, school gardens and “green roofs” in Lorenskøg.
• At least 15% of food in the municipality’s cafeterias and institutions must be ecological within the agreed time frame.
• The municipality will try out the implementation of meat-free days in its cafeterias.
• The prevalence of isolation in outcast groups will be mapped out with intent to prepare a plan to improve this situation.
• There will be development of a plan to build and maintain pedestrian and bicycle roadways in the municipality that also includes snow clearing and salting. An important part of this plan will be to develop a shared route for pedestrians and cyclists through the municipality that also accommodates recreational cycling as well as cycling to school and work.
• There will be more charging stations for electric cars next to public building in the municipality.
• There will be a plan put forward towards taking appropriate measures for black listed specimen and protective measures for red-listed species.
• There will be an activity center implemented for the elderly community.
• Work towards noise and speed regulation throughout the municipality. We will follow up with concerns regarding noise from Feiringveien.
• Work towards a good environmentally friendly design for Skårersletta.
• Work towards a good local bus system in the municipality.
• Limit the development in Fjelljamar’s city center to what was mentioned in earlier plans.
• Work towards lengthening the T-bane line to Lorenskøg.
• Ensure the preservation of green spaces within residential areas.
• Map out and secure easy access to surrounding forest (“marka”) for the future.
• Have varied and durable housing construction in Lorenskøg.
• Outside areas will be improved with natural terrain and vegetation.
• Build more senior-living spaces with certain initiatives as seen in living places like Dovre.

Kristiansund

• The Kristiansund hospital must strengthen initiatives to offer services 24 hours a day everyday of the year for children’s care, maternity and emergency care, and pharmaceutical and surgical branches. Financing for the new private hospital in Nordmøre and Romsdal must not compromise this new agenda for the Kristiansund hospital.
• Kristiansund will serve as an active leader in climate and environment politics where expertise in planning with climate accounting will be emphasized and supported.
• Sustainable work and business development and an increased commitment to using green transportation in the form of public, pedestrian, and bicycle roads.
• Work to create a lively city center.
• A consensual refugee policy in cooperation with IMDI. Investigate the rate of incoming unaccompanied minors with a focus on integration.

Nesodden

• Climate plans and annual sustainable energy reports will be prioritized and will form the basis of the design and adjustment of policy.
• The parties are also in agreement to reduce Nesodden’s gas emissions by 40% before 2020.
• A “green” perspective and mindset is a constant throughout the whole agreement.
• Reinforce protection of the Nesoddmarka following Oslo’s model with distinguished protected areas.
• Prioritizing and protecting green urban development in developing areas.
• The development of Fagerstrand and (eventually) Tangen brygge should be a leading project in environmentally-friendly construction, area development and energy use.
• Electric ferry
• The highest possible priority will be placed on pedestrian and bicycle roads. Advanced funding for these projects directly from the municipality will be considered.
• Ethical and climate-friendly purchases within the municipality.

Selbu

• Greater goals and better commitment towards goals for preservation of forest, trees and ecologically produced food.
• The inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle roads along highway 705 from Tømra to Kyllokrysset.
• The middle school will work and evolve as environmentally-friendly as possible.
• The Selbu municipality will not use pesticides on its properties.
• Work towards developing Selbu as an official eco-society within the next 4 years and working towards the possibility of becoming an official eco-city.
• A greater commitment towards using ecologically produced food in the municipality’s kitchens.
• Efforts working against Inherred sanitation to establish arrangements for recycling methods.

Trondheim

• Greenhouse gas emissions in Trondheim in 2030 should be 70-90% less than those in 1991.
• The surrounding forest border (“markagrensa”) will be preserved and will spark a green streak to protect farm land as well.
• Meat consumption and meat waste within the municipality must be reduced.
• The number of kitchen gardens within parts of the city will increase.
• There will be more kitchen gardens at schools, mental hospitals, and shared living spaces.
• Volunteer groups that are involved in urban agriculture and cultivation will receive better support.
• There will be a food center implemented for food waste.

Tønsberg

In Tønsberg the coalition parties have adopted the environmental politics platform for further collaborations. The whole agenda can be read here. (PDF).

Ålesund

• Work towards environmentally-friendly waste management, energy use, and land use for a future low-carbon society.
• Alongside planning and building new residences, schools, kindergartens and different living areas, we must strengthen development of dense downtown areas so that we lessen our dependence on car use.
• Revise climate and environment plan for the Ålesund municipality. The plan will form the basis for transportation policy.
• Public services in Ålesund must eventuate after a long-term plan is devised in cooperation with the state, county and neighboring municipalities. City subway and super bus services with real-time information between Moa and downtown shall be investigated.
• Improvements on bicycle road networks throughout the city so that those who utilize the roads can benefit in their daily commute especially in trips to and from work and freetime.
• Establish more charging stations for electric cars in the city center and at Moa in cooperation with the county.
• Support environmental business initiatives and green entrepreneurship.

Østre Toten

–Humanity and Social Profile The Østre Toten municipality will strengthen efforts to promote tolerance and humanity between inhabitants. The parties want a social profile for the municipality that places special focus on disadvantaged groups. This entails a unified effort for solidarity in both local and global perspectives.

–Climate/Environment As one of the nation’s largest agricultural municipalities, Østre Toten is incredibly dependent on its natural resources. This must be managed in a sustainably sound way to ensure the integrity of future generations’ livelihoods. This is done by passing ambitious climate policy with priority in soil conservation and biodiversity.

–Services The Østre Toten municipality will provide quality services for residents. Existing municipal services for adolescence, primarily health and care, should remain under municipal jurisdiction. There will be an increased focus on early intervention. We want to improve support on volunteer work for residents lives.

–Development and Settlement The Østre Toten municipality must have a stronger focus on increasing resettlement and economic growth. This will be achieved through long and thorough planning. It is a goal that the private business sector will instill sustainable energy use of local resources in the best possible way. Good infrastructure will ensure stable foundation and eventual success.

–Municipal Economy The parties agree in securing budget management as a priority in the election. This will ensure proper functioning within the municipality’s economy. Strengthening municipal services that provide scientifically and financially sound use of resources will be prioritized and developed. These initiatives will be considered through a long term perspective and undergo consequence analysis. This momentum will influence a common political platform. Political work methods and processes will function based on a self-determined, common agreement which will serve as the guideline for political interaction. This will serve as the basis for work with municipal planning and political work throughout the year.

Årdal

• None of the designated recreational areas will be rezoned.
• There will be no new hydropower plant development in Årdal.
• Conversation regarding climate and energy plans will take place every 3 months within the municipal presidency.
• Management in Årdal Energi will be emphasized.

Ås

• Establish a strong position in every municipal chair, the committee for health and community (HHS), the committee for adolescence and culture (HOK), the committee for technology and environment (HTM), and planned Environment committee. Initiative to lead the Environment committee is prioritized as well as associate leader to the committee of technology and environment (HTM).
• The Ås municipality aims to be a leading municipality in environmental solutions.
• Environmental politics will be strengthened through concrete initiatives and commitments to agreed goals i.e. establishing a separate committee for environmental matters.
• Revise and revitalize the municipality’s climate and energy plan as well as their biodiversity plan, planned to be put into practice before 2017. This will both be implemented within the municipality’s plan and through out separate organizations. There will be required follow ups with these plans in municipal reports.
• Municipal planning will strongly consider earth protection and establish stronger political processes to adhere to this. Work plans must have thorough consideration for consequences and alternative planning.
• The parties are in agreement, through the Norwegian University of Life and Sciences (NMBU) to find a new area for business (considerations for hotel and swimming hall) so that the area in Søråjordet can eventually and officially be a designated agriculture, nature, and outdoor (LNF) area again.
• Secure a consistent and long term plan to protect important outdoor and nature areas including municipal marshlands like Åsmåsan and others.
• Make Green policy a commitment within Health and social services.
• Develop an agriculture plan that pays particular attention to establishing new positions for scientific work.
• Enhance and reinforce cooperation and communication with the Norwegian University of Life and Sciences (NMBU) and establish routine meetings between municipal management and NMBU management.
• Don’t take advantage of opportunities that are included in environmental policy until there is an increased use of temporary employment.
• Introduce guidelines for public investments which prevent social dumping, ensures a serious and decent work environment and requires the use of training establishments. The guidelines should also address environmental requirements.
• Work for better inclusion and integration in the Ås municipality, and improve municipal and local communities’ ability to accept refugees.