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Assessment of the sustainability of countries for afordable and clean Energy requires a framework with relevant criteria, simultaneous inclusion of multiple criteria in the evaluation, and consideration of the dynamics of changes in performance over time. A wide variety of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approaches using different algorithms for multi-criteria aggregation are currently available. These methods are suitable for sustainability assessment because they allow the consideration of multiple criteria, the construction of a hierarchical structure of criteria, and the assignment of significance to criteria weights. However, MCDA methods have the limitation of being able to evaluate a data set for a single moment in time, which is insufficient for the sustainability paradigm. The mentioned limitation of MCDA motivates researchers to develop approaches that adapt MCDA methods to temporal assessment. The purpose of this paper is to present the application of a method called Data vARIability Assessment Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (the DARIA-TOPSIS method) for multi-criteria temporal assessment of European countries for affordable and clean energy. This aspect of sustainability is included in Sustainable Development Goal 7 proposed by United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The DARIA-TOPSIS method combines the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method for multi-criteria evaluation with a Gini coefficient-based measure of result variability. The method has identified the best-scored countries in terms of implementing sustainable energy policies focused on affordable and clean energy, including Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making cities more sustainable is high on the agenda in many countries, but a major challenge is the identification of which actors should contribute, and how. This paper departs from an assumption that visions may guide urban development work, and examines and compares national and local governments’ visions of future sustainable cities in Norway. The case study is the urban multilevel governance program ‘Cities of the Future’. Previous literature on urban sustainability and multilevel governance stresses the importance of shared visions and goals between stakeholders. However, the paper finds that, in the context under investigation, visions were partially dis-aligned between national and local stakeholders. Nevertheless, participants from both national and local governments considered the Cities of the Future program as successful. This was especially due to the learning networks facilitated by the program. The paper critically discusses the assumption of alignment and suggests a shift of attention from the content of vision to the processes of vision making . By this, we may understand visions as possible trading zones for the negotiation of future directions in urban sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses how and in what way different regional industrial development paths emerge through narratives about a natural resource-based industry in a peripheral region. The way in which industries are portrayed can shape how individuals or groups interpret the role of the industry, and thereby foster positive or negative attitudes towards it. We explore the dynamics in the traditional and slow-innovative lumber industry in Norway where digitalisation has recently 'turned the table' and contributed to upscaling and renewal of the production process. We identify heterogenic narratives among policy makers and within the industry itself. The pro-innovative narrative articulates a viable source of economic growth in the region and the industry as a key player in the bioeconomy, contrasted with a traditionalist view of the industry as containing low-skilled workers, low innovation performance and strong vulnerability towards extra-regional market changes. We argue that there are important reasons to concentrate on the role of narratives and discursive practices in regional development. • The regional industry path development literature has shown limited interest in the lumber industry, and has almost totally overlooked the industry from a narrative approach in connection to the periphery. • The way in which industries are portrayed can shape how individuals or groups interpret the role of the industry, and foster positive or negative attitudes towards it. • The pro-innovative narrative articulates a viable source of economic growth in the region and the industry as a key player in the bioeconomy, contrasted with a traditionalist view of the industry as containing low-skilled workers, low innovation performance and strong vulnerability towards extra-regional market changes. • The traditional con-narrative raises the threshold (or hinders it) for innovation capability in the region by highlighting problematic issues for the lumber industry through its reputation. The con-narrative highlights important barriers for renewal, and the role of institutional lock-ins is essential to understand this in greater depth. However, the analysis demonstrates that the progressive approach and innovation narrative lower the threshold and facilitate innovative capability in rural regions by highlighting enabling factors upon which regional business sectors rely. • Possible new development paths are disputed even among the firms belonging to the same sector and operating in the same geographical area. Hence, tackling the topic of narratives and power relations when studying regional development dynamics is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how political conditions and external events influenced the rise and fall of offshore wind on the political agenda in Norway between 2005 and 2012. In this sense, the paper contributes to recent debates about the role of politics in sustainable transitions. Key findings are that changes in government posts combined with a need for the offshore petroleum industry to diversify created favourable conditions for offshore wind. However, offshore wind as a solution to articulated problems was insufficiently developed when the window of opportunity opened up. The analysis then shows how a recovery in the offshore petroleum industry and new changes inside government closed the window of opportunity. The paper concludes that we should attend more to the interests of government actors, and conflicts inside government, in the analysis of energy transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies show that efficiency improvements alone will not be sufficient to attain the substantial emission reductions needed to mitigate global warming to a target of 2 °C. Consumption side changes are likely to be needed to achieve sufficient emission reductions. The United Nations emphasize the importance of developed countries taking the lead in lowering emissions to achieve the sustainable development goals. This paper assess to what extent Norwegian households can lower their carbon footprint consistent with territorial emission reductions towards the 2 °C target of global warming through implementing a set of behavioral actions. We evaluate the efficacy of the set of actions both initially and after considering rebound effects. A multiregional environmentally extended input-output database is linked with the Norwegian consumer expenditure survey to analyze both average and marginal expenditure per unit of increased income. Further, linear programming is applied to examine the changes needed by households to reach different emission reduction targets. We find that households implementing the full set of actions without re-spending can obtain a 58% decrease in their carbon footprint. When accounting for the effect of re-spending, this reduction drops to 24–35%, which is not within the requirements of the 2 °C target. The optimization analysis suggests households can achieve reductions up to 45% by restricting re-spending to specific goods and services. This indicates that curbing the rebound effect is key to achieving real reductions in household carbon footprints. We show that changing consumption patterns can significantly contribute to lowering anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions without compromising the level of economic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine spatial planning (MSP) in Europe is in a paradigm shift as all (coastal) European countries now have established practices for the production of marine spatial plans. Though international guidelines and an EU directive for MSP provides policy frameworks, the formulation of national policy designs for MSP remains a national responsibility resulting in vastly different practices. Focusing on three Northern European countries; Denmark, Germany and Norway, this paper presents examples of how national policy designs for marine spatial planning are structured, and how the current practice in each country is influenced by local planning cultures. This mapping gives insights to a number of challenges facing planning authorities when planning for sustainable development. Ambiguity dominates the framework of marine spatial planning and the central sustainability concepts it contains. This paper gives voice to the planning teams, as they are key-players in generating meaning in this ocean of ambiguity, giving insights to their understanding of sustainability in the planning of futures for sustainable seas. • The ambiguity of marine spatial planning (MSP) frameworks makes for heterogeneous MSP policy designs and practices. • The use of sustainability concepts in MSP policy designs is ambiguous and without guidance for implementation. • The understanding of sustainability is left to the planners, of which some does not build their own understanding. • National planning cultures in MSP authority largely depend on the type of agency (e.g. environmental vs. economic). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims to understand the determinants of the adoption of wood pellet technology for home heating to identify possible strategies against the slow diffusion of wood pellet in Norway. A mail survey of 737 Norwegian households was conducted in 2008, involving wood pellet adopters and non-wood pellet adopters as respondents. An integrated model combining psychological factors (such as intentions, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, habits and norms), perceived wood pellet heating characteristics, and ecological and basic values is applied to predict the installation of a wood pellet stove retrospectively. Results from a path analysis gain empirical support for the proposed integrated model. Wood pellet heating adoption is mainly predicted by a deliberate decision process starting with the evaluation of heating system characteristics, mediated by attitudes and intentions. A lack of perceived behavioral control and behavioral lock-in pose relevant barriers to the adoption process. The influence of norms and values are indirect and only minor in the given market conditions. Therefore, focusing on values or norms should not be of highest priority at the moment, whereas improvement of the subjective evaluation of the functional reliability and the costs related to wood pellet heating should have first priority. The small but significant influence of habitual decision making indicates that presenting alternatives and increase decisional involvement could be other promising strategies to reduce cognitive lock-in in decision-making. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to develop independent and systematic criteria for assessing CCS policy in terms of its level of policy integration. We believe that we should assess CCS policy in terms of the distance to an ideal integrated CCS policy in order to keep track of its trajectory toward sustainable development. After reviewing the existing literature of environmental policy integration, an assessment framework for integrated CCS policy is developed based on Arild Underdal''s notion of ‘integrated policy’ then, its usefulness is demonstrated by applying it to CCS policies in Japan and Norway. In the final part, we summarize the findings of the cases and conclude with some observations regarding explanatory factors of the difference in terms of the achieved level of policy integration between Japan and Norway''s CCS policies, and some policy implications derived from the analysis based on the framework. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Stakeholders' engagement is essential for effectiveness of SUMP/SULP. • A tool for assessing the level of maturity of UFT stakeholder's engagement. • The levels of maturity are perception, prescription, and participation. • Brazilian and Polish cities represent accordingly low and middle maturity level. • Norway cities, mainly Oslo, represent more advanced maturity level. Sustainable growth is a solution to reduce the negative effects of transport systems functioning in cities. It deals mainly with analysing the reasons for excessive exploitation and deterioration of the environment and specifying a strategy for limiting the process in the following areas: ecological, economic, social and cultural. The most effective activities in a sustainable urban transport policy combine all the aspects while minimising the costs connected with meeting the expected goals. Stakeholders' engagement is essential for the effectiveness of sustainable urban mobility plans. This paper proposes a tool for assessing the level of maturity of the engagement of urban freight transport stakeholders, comparing cities in Brazil, Poland and Norway. We proposed the minimum requirements of stakeholders' engagement and levels of maturity based on the literature. A comparative analyse was performed. The results indicate that Brazilian cities represent a low level of maturity, Polish cities represent intermediary level, and Norway cities, mainly Oslo, represent the more advanced level of maturity in the stakeholder's engagement. The results also indicated that the cities with sustainable urban mobility plans represent the highest level of maturity in the stakeholder's engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the question of how to better disseminate the concept of sustainable fishery along the Arctic shipping route. The fishery trade network of Arctic is constructed and the complex network theory is applied to conduct the analysis. We further simulate the network by introducing three factors, namely, national will, knowledge absorption capacity and initial propagation node and applying the SIR (susceptible–infective-removed) model. It is found that, in order to disseminate the sustainable fishery concept in the Arctic shipping route, there is a need for countries to increase their national will, increase their capacity to absorb knowledge, and give full play to the role of high-node countries. This paper theoretically suggests three countries of Norway, Denmark, and China to act as initiators of the network and proposes possible measures that countries can take to cooperate on sustainable fisheries development. Our findings offer a useful reference on international arctic fishery cooperation. • Better disseminate the concept of sustainable development in the Arctic region. • Complex network theory to construct fishery trade network of Arctic. • Norway, Denmark, and China to act as initiators of the network. • Policy recommendations on international Arctic fishery cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norway is a major renewable energy developer in Europe, mainly through its development of hydropower. Research has shown that solar energy also has potential in Norway, however, the cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity was only 120 MW at the end of 2019, representing 4.1% of the total electricity generation. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the main barriers to diffusing photovoltaics for residential buildings from the public sector, private sector, and the people's perspectives in Norway. Furthermore, it analyzes solar development, policies, and models in different countries, and proposes a potential model and solutions to overcome barriers. The results show that the high initial costs of photovoltaics and limited information and awareness of the possible benefits are the main barriers for the people. For the private sector, limited funding and few pilot projects to learn from, as well as risk uncertainty are the main barriers. The main concern in the public sector is the low application of existing incentives. Public-private-people partnerships (PPPP) have a big potential to overcome these barriers by dividing the high initial costs into more affordable sums, facilitating the information flow among different sectors, and involving all three sectors to create new incentives. In addition, Norway is well-suited for PPPP, as the citizens pay much attention to sustainable development, and there is already a close collaboration between the public and private sectors in the energy sector. Finally, three concrete solutions using PPPP are proposed: design a co-investment solution, provide information sharing platforms, and create new incentives. • Barriers to diffusing PV in Norway from people, public, and private are identified. • The main barriers are few pilot cases and low electricity prices due to hydropower. • Public-private-people partnerships have potential to overcome identified barriers. • Co-investment, information sharing, and new incentives with PPPP are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, the discourse has evolved from an initial focus on sustainable development to green and blue growth. Blue growth necessitates a different focus from business- as -usual policy as regards the fishing industry, requiring enhanced research and investment in value generating, clean aquatic-related activities. Given this change, the question emerges of whether the current policy environment is equipped to stimulate increased research and investment efforts within the fishing industry, sufficient to encourage the industry to contribute to blue growth. Do the fishing industries in the Nordic countries realise an opportunity in blue growth in the next several years and what drivers and barriers do they perceive in this regard? This paper relies on in-depth, semi-structured, elite interviews conducted in Iceland and Norway to reveal the perspectives of the fishing industry regarding the perceived drivers and barriers for investing in blue growth. Policy implications and possible directions for enhancing national policies to support the fishing industry in contributing to blue growth are addressed in the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The background for this paper was a wish to extend the understanding of how sustainable transitions in sociotechnical systems come about, especially the characteristics of processes and the role of actors. The empirical context was the case of developing biogas production and improving transport in the Trondheim region in Norway. The case consisted of two connected units; establishment of a biogas plant (production side) and development of a sustainable public transport system (use side). As a template for the analysis, the Multilevel Perspective (MLP) on sociotechnical transitions was applied. The core in this perspective is the (sociotechnical) regime level, where changes have to occur in order for sustainable transitions to take place. Central at the regime level is the interaction between actors, technologies and institutions. Transitions can take place if actors experience threats from the external world and have access to niche innovations. Analysis of the case showed that the development first went through a transformation phase (ca. 1990–2009) where R&D actors developed basic technical innovations. In the next phase (2009–2019) there was a reconfiguration process were politicians and market actors engaged. Over the years, this process resulted in significant sustainability outcomes (increased production of biogas and exchange of fossil for biofuels in transport). Three major lessons can be drawn: 1) the crucial role of leadership when it comes to interpreting external changes, timing of actions and coordination of resources, 2) the necessity of new technological innovations and their adoption on regime level, and 3) differentiated state support can develop demand for renewable products and is necessary for compensating extra costs for niche actors. • Leadership is crucial in sustainable transitions. • In leadership, timing of action and coordination of resources is paramount. • Innovations take place and must be searched in special environments (niches). • State support can contribute to develop demand and compensate for extra costs. • Interaction across regimes opens special possibilities for transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]