Is an emissions-free city possible?

In a world where climate change has become one of the most urgent challenges, the quest for an emissions-free society is more important than ever. The Paris Agreement, signed by almost all the world’s countries, set ambitious targets for limiting global warming, and Oslo, the capital of Norway, has positioned itself as an inspiring example in the race toward sustainability.

What will I learn from this article?

• Norway’s commitment to sustainability
• Oslo, a benchmark for renewable energies and energy efficiency
• How Norwegian industry is decarbonizing

Norway’s firm commitment to sustainability

The Paris Agreement, signed by just about all the world’s nations, seeks to limit global warming to less than 2°C, or preferably 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, decarbonization of many sectors of the economy is essential. In this respect, renewable energies such as solar and wind play a crucial role. But the energy transition goes beyond just changing the energy matrix; it also involves transforming infrastructure, mobility and industry.

At least, this is how the Norwegian government has understood it since 2015 when, after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, it assigned responsibility for fulfilment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to each and every one of its ministries.

After years of investment and development, Norway has now become the indisputable leader in the use of clean energy, with hydroelectric energy the backbone. Thanks to its more than 1,000 fjords, Norway’s hydroelectric power stations generate around 88% of all energy consumed, consolidating the country as the biggest producer of hydroelectricity in Europe.

This statistic is complemented by a growing interest in wind and solar energies, which have seen a significant increase in investment recently. Together, these renewable sources mean that renewable energies have a 98% share of the Norwegian electricity system.

                         “Renewable energies make up 98% of the Norwegian electricity system”

The effort has been recognized by the ND-Gain Index published by Notre-Dame University which says Norway is the country in the world most prepared to tackle climate change. And the ranking also placed Oslo, Norway’s capital, as an exemplary city in sustainability terms.

Join us on a journey across the city that aspires to achieve zero emissions by 2030 and discover the driving forces that are guiding it toward this ambitious target.

Oslo, benchmark for renewable energies and energy efficiency

Oslo stands out as one of the most rapidly growing cities in Europe and in the process offers us some key pointers to a sustainable transition. The city headed the Arcadis ranking of the world’s most sustainable cities in 2023.

At the heart of the city’s transformation, the construction industry performs a crucial role, well on the way toward a net zero emissions future. This it is achieving by implementing renewable energies, systems which improve energy efficiency and other innovations reducing the use of fossil fuels.

A brilliant example of this revolution is the Vulkan project. This old industrial estate, located on the banks of the Akerselva river, has metamorphosized into a lively center of entrepreneurial and cultural activity with schools, hotels and residential buildings. Vulkan is characterized by its innovative, sustainable architecture, which includes a local energy center with 300-meter-deep geothermal wells and the Bellonahuset office building, equipped with solar collectors for heating and cooling, demonstrating that urban areas can be regenerated using sustainable practices.

Oslo City Hall has not only rolled out energy generation and consumption policies with respect to construction, but minimizes the volume of materials dumped at rubbish tips.

In fact, one of Oslo’s most ambitious targets in terms of circularity is a significant reduction in waste generated in the city. To reach this goal, local government has introduced a series of politics and measures promoting the reduction, re-use and recycling of materials. Among these initiatives is a waste tax which covers homes and companies in relation to the amount of residue they generate.

Oslo is also on the road to becoming the first city in the world with a fully electric public transport system. Buses, the metro and trains all run on electricity only or are in the process of converting to it. This commitment extends to the private sector, where over 80% of cars sold in Norway in 2023 were electric, according to the Norwegian Highway Federation.

The city supports this transformation with an extensive rapid and super-rapid charging infrastructure, along with fiscal incentives and toll exemptions for electric vehicle owners. Additionally, it has incentivized the shared use of bicycles.

How Norwegian industry is decarbonizing

In Oslo, they are aware that industries exist which cannot be decarbonized solely through electrification. As such, it is pushing green hydrogen to become a key element of heavy industry processes. It signed, for example, an agreement with Rotterdam to create an ecological maritime transport corridor by 2025. Two short-haul container ships, each powered by a 3.2 MW hydrogen battery, will be launched and it is estimated each will cut CO₂ emissions by up to 25,000 tons a year.

In the Norwegian cement sector, innovative technologies are also being deployed combining the use of green hydrogen with the capture and storage of carbon to reduce CO₂ emissions. An example of this is Longship, a national mega-project to capture, transport and store carbon dioxide generated by a cement plant. Its objective? To remove 400,000 tons of CO₂ a year.

Oslo shows us that an emissions-free society is not a utopian dream, but a target that can be achieved with determination, innovation and political and social cooperation. To become an emissions-free city, electrification needs to be accompanied by a solid circular economic strategy, as well as by fostering the use of renewable energies, introducing sustainable mobility and developing green and resilient urban planning. While the world looks on, Oslo is speeding toward the future.