Goals

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• reduce the spread of substances hazardous to health and the environment
• achieve integrated, ecosystem-based marine and water management
• increase recycling and reduce emissions from waste
• reduce the harmful effects of air pollution and noise

Clear, timely and quantified national goals for the various environmental challenges are politically determined by the government and the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament). We implement and initiate pollution policy. In order to do this we have a wide range of tasks, which we have divided into five functions. All five functions and the efforts they involve are important for achieving the environment policy goals.

1. A leader in environmental knowledge and communication

• has a clear overview of the state of the environment and current trends
• communicates reliable, relevant and understandable environmental information
• employs effective information technology to manage and communicate information
• cooperates with other centres of expertise to secure research results and environmental information

2. Clear, active and progressive exercise of authority

• administers and enforces the Pollution Control Act, the Product Control Act and the Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Act and their regulations,  by giving permits, drawing up requirements and setting limits for emissions
• gives relevant and understandable legislation information
• operates risk-based inspection of major pollution sources and active inspection of the many smaller sources of pollution
• reacts quickly and firmly to serious breaches of the regulations
  

3. Ensuring integrated regional pollution management

• directs the work of the County Governors on pollution, coordinates their supervisory work and facilitates joint action
• guides the County Governors in order to ensure integrated and effective implementation of their tasks
  settles all appeals against decisions of the County Governors pursuant to pollution legislation

4. Adviser and driving force for increased environmental commitment

• shows how environmental conditions are developing in relation to national goals and international obligations, and speaks out when trends are going in the wrong direction
• has an overview of the contributions of the various sectors to environmental problems and identifies the major environmental challenges
• gives the Ministry of the Environment its assessments of environmental trends and also analyses and gives advice about possible actions and instruments
  

5. Active in international environmental work

• participates in international processes and works to influence regional and global agreements that help to reduce serious environmental problems
• cooperates with environmental authorities in other countries so as to share administrative expertise and contribute to environmental improvements
  

We prioritise the most important environmental challenges

We have many environmental goals. Climate change and the spread of hazardous substances have the highest priority.

To reduce climate change we shall:

• exercise authority more decisively
• focus on energy as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions
• be the leading agency that has an overview of developments in the field of climate
• further develop and update analyses of measures that span all sectors
• prioritise international work, especially to achieve an ambitious international climate agreement after 2012
• strengthen our role as adviser and partner in climate and energy issues

To reduce the spread of chemicals that are hazardous to health and the environment we shall::

• strengthen the knowledge base and provide better information about hazardous substances and chemicals to industry, the media and consumers
• strengthen and intensif work in the EU and international fora that is of particular importance to Norway
• develop regulations to halt consumer products that are hazardous to health and the environment
• help to improve the coordination of work on chemicals in Norway
  

An attractive workplace

Our aim is to be a good workplace and an attractive partner. We offer our employees interesting tasks for the benefit of society and we put the emphasis on quality, a good working environment and opportunities for development. We prioritise the effective use of ICT and have well designed internal operations and service systems. We wish to be a flexible organisation that adapts to the challenges of the future.

Our working environment and our relationships with partners shall be based on respect and openness.