About

Arendal is a city located at the sea in southern Norway. With 40,000 inhabitants, Arendal is the tenth largest city in Norway. 
Founded on the industries of shipping, forestry and mining, the town now has a largely tourism-based economy due to its excellent location, climate and resources for recreational boaters and holiday makers. Approximately 150,000 people visit the town during the peak summer season running from May through September. This is when the town truly comes alive, and the downtown area, known
as "the Polln", is vibrant with market stalls, fishing boats and cultural events.
Since the early 1990s, the town has also become a hub of trade and industry, with a noticeable growth in the information technology field.
Arendal hosts UNEP/GRID-Arendal – Norway’s largest UN activity – and the city is profiling itself as the UN city of Norway.

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Strategy

The city of Arendal took a principled decision in 2007 to become a Climate Neutral City. Here is a brief overview of the city’s strategy, including timeframe:

1. Decision: The City Council took a principled decision in late 2007for Arendal to be Climate Neutral.

2. Process: Responsible staff in the city administration has been chosen to lead the process, and a consultant has been appointed to support the process which started in January 2008.

3. Measuring emissions: An inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s own activities in 2007 is under preparation. This will include energy use in buildings, transport, and other activities generating emissions. The best available methodology for inventories is currently being identified and a consultant will be contracted shortly. The first “footprint” analysis of climate gas emissions is expected to be finished by the end of May 2008.
4. Reducing emissions: This is seen as the core activity in the process. The inventory will be the basis for establishing detailed goals for reducing emissions in the various sectors. The Arendal City Council had earlier decided that the city should be developed within principles of sustainable development. The current goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are stabilization in 2012, and reduction by 25 per cent in 2025 with 1990 as a basis. The annual plans for emission reduction will be prepared with the long term perspective in mind.

5. Offsetting remaining emissions: The city plans to offset the remaining emissions through buying emission quotas as recommended by national authorities/the UN. The Norwegian State Pollution Control is expected to present a recommended system later in 2008 where cities, companies and individuals can buy emission quotas to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Arendal’s intention is to offset all emissions and become a fully climate neutral city. This could happen from 2008.

6. Informing: Arendal aims to stand up as an example for other cities and national authorities to follow. The objective is to inspire local citizens, businesses and organizations as well as local authorities, and promote the city internationally as an environmental friendly and climate neutral city. The city of Arendal has decided to join the UNEP Carbon Neutral Network and the Mayor joined the launch of the network in Monaco in February 2008.

7. Staying up to date: Arendal’s plans will be updated on a continuous basis from 2009 taking note of new knowledge and recommendations from the International Panel of Climate Change, national regulations and the development of the post Kyoto international regime. The city’s plan is to be at the forefront of developments, assuming that this will result in both political and economical gain for the city.

The city of Arendal is aware of and is addressing the global challenges related to climate change and future energy demand. The city’s policy is to think globally and act locally. The current climate and energy plan includes the following concrete goals:

• Stabilize/reduce electricity use in all municipal buildings
• Substitute oil boilers with bio boilers
• Support extensive use of bio energy and bio fuel in the transport sector
• Place a strong emphasis on the environmental profile in the development of new housing areas
• Include energy plans in the presentation of all new plans for the development of business and housing areas
• Support SMEs that want to participate in the Norwegian Eco-Lighthouse Program to reduce their impact on the environment, cut costs and benefit from their status as an environmentally responsible company.

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