Oslo

Norway

The City of Oslo strives to be a leading agent in the transformation to a greener and more inclusive society.

Emissions Reduction

16%

As of: 2019 (Baseline: 2009)

We’ll count carbon dioxide the same way we count money

Vice Mayor Steen

Emissions Reduction Target

95%

Baseline: 2009

by 2030

Renewable Electricity Supply

100%

Achieved

Emissions by Source

Waste 5%

Buildings 30%

Transport 65%

As of: 2019

Electricity Mix

As of: 2020

The City of Oslo strives to be a leading agent in the transformation to a greener and more inclusive society. This requires major readjustments in both energy and transport use.

Greenhouse gas emissions in Oslo have increased by 25 percent since 1990. Reversing this trend and starting to curb emissions will be challenging. However, the analysis upon which this strategy was built, indicates that the targets are achievable, provided that we implement strong measures now.

The future state of Oslo is a climate-friendly city. To create a society without greenhouse gas emissions, we must convert from using fossil energy to using renewable energy. The Climate and Energy Strategy describes how we can achieve our climate targets, while developing and upgrading an urban community in which people and commerce thrive.

Strategic roadmap

The Climate and Energy Strategy aligns with the City of Oslo’s Municipal Master Plan “Oslo towards 2030: Smart, safe and green”. This master plan is the municipal government’s overarching strategy for future development in the city. The Climate and Energy Strategy is a roadmap outlining how the green shift should be implemented in order to achieve Oslo’s climate targets for 2020 and 2030. It was adopted by the City Council on 22 June 2016.

The strategy shows how we will take a clear stand in the transport sector, wherein pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users will be prioritised and where we aim to reduce car traffic by 20 percent by 2020 and by 33 percent by 2030. The Climate effort will be organized more clearly, and will be a cross-sectoral task for the City of Oslo.

The targets of the Climate and Energy Strategy for Oslo:

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent by 2020 and;
by 95 percent by 2030.

Greenhouse gas emissions in Oslo

Oslo has made significant progress in a number of areas:

Greenhouse gas emissions per capita are falling, and the number of people traveling by public transport, cycle and on foot is rising – at the expense of car traffic.
Oslo has the world’s highest proportion of electric cars and is a city defined by its proximity to green spaces, open areas and the Oslo fjord.
We have a cycle-based waste management system where waste is converted to useful products and we have an expanding green commercial sector.

While we have much to be proud of, significant challenges lies ahead to achieve our near zero-emissions vision. To achieve the target of a 36 percent reduction by 2020 from 1990 levels, we will have to reduce CO 2 emissions with approximately 460,000 tonnes.

The use of fossil heating oil in buildings accounts for 17 percent of the emissions. The goal is to fully phase out these emissions by 2020.

61 percent of the emissions in Oslo derive from transport, of which around half are attributable to the transport of people, and half to goods transport and construction activities. The transport sectors will require the most determined efforts moving forward.

In order to reach the targets, a climate budget is in operation, to ensure implementation of measures necessary to fulfill Oslo’s climate goals.

Oslo Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis

This is the first comprehensive analysis of the status of Oslo's preparedness for climate change. Climate change vulnerability is the result of how exposed society is to climate change and of its capacity to adapt to and prevent the impacts of climate change. The aim of the Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis is to strengthen the knowledge base for a more climate-adapted city, where considerations of climate change are assessed and climate adaptation solutions are integrated.

Oslo's 2021 Climate Budget

The City of Oslo has developed a dedicated Climate budget, which serves as a governance tool for its climate work. The Climate budget presents and calculates the effect of measures that will help us to reach our target. It shows where responsibility lies for implementing the measures in municipal entities, and includes requirements for reporting the status of the climate measures in line with the entities’ financial reporting. The Climate budget also clarifies which national and regional measures directly contribute to emissions reductions in Oslo.

Introduction of Electric Coaches

An almost silent electric bus transports pupils through the city. Oslo is investing in fast charging stations so that more buses in Oslo can have zero emissions.

Climate and Energy Strategy

Oslo will be a city that produces no greenhouse gas emissions and that can better address climate change. In May 2020 the City Council adopted a new climate strategy towards 2030 that shows how these goals will be achieved.

District Heating From Sewage

From 2020 there will be a ban on the use of fossil oil and paraffin to heat residential and commercial buildings. In addition to helping with the phase-out of the use of fossil fuel for heating, district heating also helps improve air quality both indoors and outdoors.

Urban Food Growing

The local council in Oslo’s Sagene district has put 61 plant containers at 11 sites around the district. Each container is adopted by people living nearby, who can use it to grow organic vegetables and flowers for their own use.

Moves To Make a Zero-emission Port of Oslo

International and local ferries alone account for half of all CO2emissions from the Port of Oslo, but now efforts are being made to achieve big cuts in emissions and air pollution.

This Family Wants a Car-free Life

This family of four children and two adults lives right in the centre of Oslo. As for most families with young children, the week is crammed with school, kindergarten, work and leisure activities. Read how they deal with the logistical challenges – without a car!

People Are Installing Charging Points for Electric Cars at Record Speed

In 2018, 59 percent of the new cars sold in Oslo were electric or plug-in hybrids. This is causing an ever-greater demand for charging points for electric cars. The vast majority of people want to charge their cars at home. In June 2017, the Climate Agency established a scheme to provide grants for installing battery-charging infrastructure in housing cooperatives in Oslo.