Viking Magazine - March 2020 - 38

Ambassador's Insights
Smart and Sustainable Cities
BY AMBASSADOR KÅRE R. AAS
ross-country skiing is a favorite
Norwegian pastime. Norwegians
will definitely be following our
ski team as they participate in the World
Cup race hosted in Minneapolis midMarch-the
first time in two decades
such a race has been held in the United
States. This is a unique opportunity
to showcase the sport to a broader
audience. I'll be there, and look forward
to days filled with sports, debates and
seminars.
C
A topic we look forward to discussing
in Minneapolis is " smart cities, " often
referred to as sustainable cities as
well. We see a lot of interest in this
concept across the USA, including the
Midwest. What makes a city smart and
sustainable? While there is no clear
definition, it is clear that we have moved
beyond the buzz and have identified a
mission for such a city: to optimize city
functions and drive economic growth
while improving quality of life for its
citizens using smart technology and data
analysis. If that sounds complicated, we
could consider what such a city could
look like.
A smart city should have a wellfunctioning
transportation system,
smart urban planning, technologybased
infrastructure and environmental
initiatives. The European Commission
awarded the Norwegian capital Oslo
the prestigious European Green Capital
title for 2019. That has given Oslo
great recognition and an opportunity
to showcase the city as truly green and
smart. Let me use a few examples from
Oslo.
Oslo has set an ambitious climate
goal: Reducing emissions by 95% by
2030. Focusing on " smart " solutions,
be they for mobility, construction or
38 VIKING MARCH 2020
sonsofnorway.com
energy, is top priority. Examples of
smart mobility solutions include electric
cars and ferries. By 2028, all public
transportation in Oslo will be emission
free. Last year, Oslo received more than
100 electric buses, as well as the city's
first electric passenger ferry. Oslo is
focusing on facilitating biking through
percent of Oslo's district heating comes
from waste-provided energy. Norway
generally and Oslo in particular are at
the forefront of international efforts
related to carbon capture and storage
(CCS). There are development plans
for a full-size CCS plant in Oslo, tied to
waste management.
These are just a few examples of what
makes Oslo " smart. " Local authorities
in towns across Norway are working
on many similar issues. My experience
is that there is a lot of interest in the
United States in smart, green and
sustainable solutions as well. We have a
lot to gain from working together and
sharing our experiences.
the development of bike lanes and trails.
Improving the city's bike infrastructure
reduces the city's CO2
emissions, eases
traffic congestion and boosts local air
quality. The city's bike sharing scheme
includes 3,000 bikes, providing 2.8
million rides in 2018.
Smart construction solutions
include the creation of a cluster for
the construction industry in Norway.
Included in the cluster is CoLab, opened
by the Prime Minister in September
as a test center for new, effective and
sustainable construction technologies.
Smart energy solutions include
recycling solutions, where Oslo's waste
management plays an important role in
the city's circular economy. Sixty-three
Another aspect of the " green " Oslo is
its closeness to nature, which residents
can take advantage of in their daily
lives for sports and outdoor activities.
A short ride on the city's subway takes
you directly into the forest, where skiing
opportunities are nearly endless. This is
definitely a reason why we are so active
in many of the winter sports, crosscountry
skiing included. It is great to
see that this sport catches the interest
of Americans as well, and that you
have produced some excellent skiers.
I am looking forward to seeing you in
Minneapolis soon!
About the Author
Ambassador Kåre R.
Aas currently serves as
Norway's Ambassador
to the United States.
facebook.com/
NorwegianEmbassyinWashington/
@kareraas
PHOTO BY BECCA DILLEY
http://www.facebook.com/ http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - March 2020

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