Parliamentary White Paper 26 (2022-2023) – Changing Climate: Together for a Climate-Resilient Society.

The present document contains Norway's Parliamentary White Paper 26 (2022-2023), titled "Changing Climate - Together for a Climate-Resilient Society." The White Paper presents efforts and measures to prepare for and adapt nature and society to climate change, creating a climate-resilient society. The White Paper is divided into three parts. Part 1 describes changes in the climate and their consequences for nature and society. Part 2 presents an improved governance system for the national climate adaptation work, outlining the framework for increased efforts in various sectors and better coordination. Part 3 outlines the government's plan for national climate adaptation work for the next four years, from 2024 to 2028.
The government aims to expand the national goal for climate adaptation to "prepare and adapt society and ecosystems to climate change." This policy change is based on the recognition that healthy ecosystems are crucial for reducing the consequences of climate change for both society and nature. The government further aims to implement an improved governance system for national climate adaptation efforts; develop a national climate vulnerability analysis every four years; and introduce procedures for updating the government's climate adaptation policy and present a new parliamentary report on climate adaptation in four years.
The government's plan for national climate adaptation work establishes focus areas and measures in cross-sectoral climate adaptation efforts as well as in specific sectors. As regards cross-sectoral climate adaptation efforts, measures are laid down on the topic of food security. In particular, the government aims to continue the three pillars of Norwegian food security: maintaining the production base, ongoing food production, and well-functioning trade systems. Another cross-sectoral topic concerns Sami interests and the utilization of indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation efforts, where the government will: acquire more knowledge about how climate change affects Sami culture and livelihoods, traditions, ways of life, and health; engage Sami Parliament (Sametinget) and the Norwegian Association of Reindeer Herding Sami (Norske Reindriftsamers Landsforbund) in climate adaptation efforts when relevant; and Include indigenous knowledge (árbediehtu) in climate adaptation work.
Specific sectors covered by the White Paper include: nature and environment; national security, civil security, and emergency preparedness; floods and landslides; buildings, infrastructure, and transportation; agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture; industry; health; foreign and security policy; aid and development cooperation; and Svalbard. As regards agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture, the government will continue to work on climate adaptation measures and climate-resilient farming practices that can contribute to both achieving agricultural policy goals, national climate adaptation goals, and ensure other societal interests; establish a mandate and a broadly composed working group with members from research, industry, and administration, to review climate adaptation in agriculture; and assess how the tools and mechanisms of the agricultural sector can be used to facilitate climate adaptation and climate-resilient farming practices in conjunction with climate change.