About
The Roadmap was launched in June 2016, and was meant to serve two main functions: Partly, it was intended as input to the Government-appointed committee on Green Competitiveness, with proposals for government measures to promote a more sustainable industry. Partly, it was intended to provide commercial building owners and managers with recommendations on which steps to take to make the construction and operation of commercial buildings more environmentally friendly. The Roadmap outlines a vision of a climate-neutral Norway by 2050, a 40% emissions reduction by 2030, a closed-loop material cycle by 2050 (circular economy) and zero emission of environmental contaminants by 2050.
The recommendations for property companies are summarised in ten recommended immediate measures for small and large property owners. A corresponding list has been introduced for residential property developers. Property companies can endorse the immediate measures by signing an endorsement agreement, under which company management commits to implementing the measures in plans and procedures within one year. By the end of that year, the company is to meet with the Norwegian Property Federation and the Norwegian Green Building Council to present how the company has chosen to specify each of the ten immediate measures.
In November 2021, the Norwegian Property Federation and the Norwegian Green Building Council introduced ten new immediate measures (immediate measures version 2.0), aimed at property companies that have already signed and implemented the ten original immediate measures. In connection with introducing the new measures, the organizations stated that several of the property companies have expressed an interest in more ambitious measures to reach for.
Who does it impact?
The Roadmap has an indirect impact on the entire property industry, inasmuch as it outlines which steps need to be taken in order for Norway to attain the environmental objectives it has committed to.
Status: Launched
Launched 23 June 2016
Participants
A list of which companies have thus far endorsed the immediate measures is available here (in Norwegian)
Thommessen's comments
We believe the Roadmap provides practical and specific recommendations for property owners and developers, who are also offered follow-up to ensure that the measures are implemented. Close to 100 property owners, developers and managers have signed agreements endorsing the immediate measures since the Roadmap was launched eight years ago. This goes to show that many companies operating in the property industry want to promote more sustainable solutions. The measures involve, inter alia, planning for reuse (circular economy), prioritising construction components with low greenhouse gas emissions, preparing real energy budgets and implementing environmental management in the company.
Among the suggestions aimed at the authorities are stricter environmental requirements in the Building Regulations and specific incentives to induce green construction and operation. The proposals include priority building permit processing, reduced building permit fees, higher building density and differentiated/reduced property tax for green buildings. We believe that these incentives may be relevant in connection with implementation of the EU taxonomy, should the authorities wish to introduce regulations or systems that encourages construction, operation and investment in properties in accordance with the taxonomy criteria.