WHERE IN THE WORLD? Western Norway boasts some of the world’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Stretching from the southwest near Stavanger to the northern reaches of Tromsø, Norway’s majestic fjords are nestled along the country’s western coastline. Deep, narrow inlets carved by ancient glaciers characterise this picturesque landscape, where towering cliffs plunge into clear icy waters.
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With all this beauty comes great responsibility. The world’s oceans and waterways are experiencing a dramatic decline. Amid this crisis, Norway’s fjords represent an under-studied and vulnerable ecosystem. Environmental regulations are tightening globally, but nowhere faster or firmer than in Norway’s World Heritage Fjords. UNESCO designated Geirangerfjord a World Heritage Site in 2005 to protect and conserve their culture and natural heritage for future generations. Tourist numbers are already high in these sensitive fjords, and they predict a 40% increase in tourists by 2030. Geirangerfjord has around 800 000 visitors a year. The Norwegian government says that 40% of those visitors are from cruise ships. “Growth at this level will be unsustainable unless we find new ways to manage tourism in the heritage fjords,” says State Secretary Atle Hamar in the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
According to the Western Norway Research Institute, cruise ships in Norway use around 170 million litres of fuel a year, equating to about 3% of the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. Most of this fuel is burned at sea, but approximately 30% is burned while these ships are in port or visiting fjords. The Norwegian Parliament has adopted a resolution to halt emissions from cruise ships and ferries in Geirangerfjord (plus Aurlandsfjord, and Nærøyfjord) and decreed that the country’s UNESCO-protected fjord will be free from these emissions no later than 2026. From 2026, only ships powered by alternative fuels, such as liquified natural gas (LNG) will be allowed to visit the fjords. This resolution from the Norwegian Parliament builds on a 2015 decision that requires all new ferries to have low or zero-emission technology on board. As a direct result, they expect more than 60 electrical ferries will become seaborne in Norway over the next few years, a decision expected
to positively impact local populations, transport, tourism, climate, and the health of the fjord environment. Already leading, Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten’s fleet of seven ships will run on a combination of batteries, shore power, and biofuel by the end of the year. With more than 1 000 fjords around the country, 10 frequented regularly by cruise ships, hopes are that this initiative will eventually cover more of the fjords. “The Norwegian Parliament has adopted a brave resolution which will have a great positive impact on conserving our UNESCO World Heritage marine site. This will make the fjords the world’s first zero-emission zone at sea. It is a brave policy we hope other nations and unique UNESCO World Heritage Marine Sites will adopt so that we, together with all international cruise lines, can protect our Crown Jewels of the Ocean.” says Katrin Blomvik, director of the Geirangerfjord World Heritage Foundation.
Geiranger Ferge. Credit: Oddgeir Visnes
Norway aims to be a leader in environmental and social responsibility. Responsible tourism in Norway is close to the nation’s heart, bolstered by national wealth and the general population’s love of nature. In total, 98-99% of Norway’s electricity comes from hydroelectricity. The country manages their fish stocks sustainably, are investing billions in biomass and other renewable energy projects, and the country has committed to being domestically carbon neutral by 2030.
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