Norway: beautiful landscapes, clean power, walkable cities
Norway (a land of dramatic fjords and vast forests) is often cited as the greenest country on earth. It runs mostly on hydropower (water). Due to lots of rivers, lakes and rain.
England can’t really rely so much on water power as you need big mountains and deep valleys, which is why our hydropower plants really would only work in Cumbria (or Scotland).
The best clean energy for England is community solar panels on south/east facing roofs (with batteries to store energy for evening) or wind (you can now get bladeless turbines to avoid bird and bat deaths, and studies show that painting the base and one blade black can also help).
The best way to reduce fossil fuel use in England is simply to use less energy. Through simple living (walking communities, organic food and clothing etc) and insulating all older homes, which could massively reduce energy use and bills.
Norway has zero nuclear power
Norway (like Austria and New Zealand) has no nuclear power. In fact, it remains concerned about radioactive waste blowing over from Sellafield in Cumbria, which is being decommissioned over several decades.
Recently, the Labour government approved a nuclear plant on the beautiful North Wales island of Anglesey, to the dismay of local people (and puffins).
Norway has mixed use neighbourhoods
In England, a new town would build:
- A cluster of new-build houses
- A public park nearby (you have to drive to)
- A big retail park
- Car parks (but little public transport)
- Offices in the next town
In Norway, a new town would build:
- A cluster of eco-friendly homes
- A park (and perhaps forest) within walking distance
- Small-town shops and offices within walking distance. People can work from home and have lunch from a local sandwich shop. Or walk to the office in town, then walk back home for lunch.
- There are good public transport links out of town.
- Connected walking networks, so you can walk from town to town.
- Communities are safe and friendly.
Read In Praise of Paths by Norwegian writer Torbjørn Ekelund. After he was diagnosed with epilepsy, he had to give up his car. But embraced walking paths outside his home city of Oslo.
Norway protects its nature and wildlife
Norway has around 3000 conservation areas and strong environmental safeguards to protect ecosystems and endangered species.
Like Sweden, moose are everywhere in Norway, an important reason to make roads safer for wildlife. Like deer in England, it’s important to steer clear of them during rutting season, antlers can be dangerous.
Elks are North American and different animals, though they look like moose. And confusingly a moose in Norwegian is called an elg, although it’s not an elk, but a moose!
