Bergen
Updated on 12.09.2024
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. Due to our Hanseatic heritage and proximity to the sea, our history is one of European collaboration. The City of Bergen has set ambitious climate and circularity goals. And the development of a circular economy is both prioritised and adopted at a political and administrational level in the municipality.
The strategic responsibility for circular economy (CE) planning in the City of Bergen is delegated to the Climate Agency and the Department of Business Development and Agriculture.
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The dual responsibility is mirrored in the goals to:
- reduce the carbon footprint and;
- accelerate sustainable business development.
The municipality has several CE projects and initiatives and employees from several municipal departments are involved in establishing a comprehensive Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) for the city.
GDP or GDP Category (at NUTS 3 level) Eurostat, same as cohesion policy 2019: Developed region
Urban rural predominance: Predominantly urban
Leading organisation
City of Bergen
Unit/department/section
Climate Agency and the Department of Business Development and Agriculture
Link to existing circular economy action plan
In the City of Bergen circular economy is fully integrated in the municipality's climate strategy. Green Strategy (Grønn strategi), Climate strategy for Bergen 2022-2030 states circular economy as one of four main strategies for the climate transition of Bergen, together with climate neutrality (85% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions), climate adaptation and climate risk management.
The systematic follow-up of the Green Strategy is further defined through our two main action plans:
- Green operations (Grønn virksomhet), the Climate and Environmental Plan for the City of Bergen’s operations defines both sub-goals and measures for how the municipality itself will achieve the goals in the Green Strategy.
- Action Plan for Green Strategy (Handlingsplan for Grønn strategi) contains measures that the municipality is responsible for implementing to achieve the goals of the Green Strategy.
Circular economy is further incorporated in thematic plans such as our Purchasing strategy, Action plan for business development and Environmental plan for construction projects.
Objectives
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Other activities
The City of Bergen have implemented a wide range of CE policies, projects, and initiatives the last five years:
- The circular potential: The feasibility study ‘Circular Bergen’ describes the sectors with the highest potential for circular development and associated barriers in the region.
- Waste and sanitation: The City of Bergen has secured the implementation of the sewer sludge biogas plant (15 GWh) and the city centre’s underground pneumatic waste system. Other important developments include the separate collection of food waste, and the dynamic financing of waste made possible in collaboration with the local waste managing company BIR.
- Food system: The City of Bergen has both strategic goals and measures to generate a positive impact on the food system.
- Bioeconomy: In collaboration with Vestland County Council, and other partners, the City of Bergen invests in the development of a regional, regenerative bioeconomy. The goal is to create circular and high value products and materials from biowaste, in an efficient and sustainable way. Investing in industrial networks, clusters and research programmes is the main strategy, as well as facilitating for industrial symbiosis.
- Sustainable communities: As a community developer, the City of Bergen is a facilitator for sustainable living, and the development of an inclusive and just CE. The City of Bergen strives to involve the local communities in this transition. Through investment in volunteer centres, makerspaces, environmental organisations and neighbourhood initiatives, we create spaces for sustainable and circular interaction. This year, we will increase our efforts to reduce textile waste.
- The circular city: The City of Bergen strives to create sustainable and circular spaces and buildings and develop solutions for sustainable, active, and shared mobility. This is about sharing public buildings and facilities with local communities, but also about establishing a more circular building practice. Circular mobility services, such as city bikes and shared vehicles, are prioritised. The development of Bergens light rail system, combined with a rigorous densification policy, remains the most important project.
Link to Circular Systemic Solution
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Circular economy good practices
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Participation in other relevant initiatives
The city of Bergen participates in the following initiatives:
Key publications, policies, legislations and initiatives
- Circular Bergen, feasibility study on the circular potential of Bergen
- Climate budget integrated in the city budget
- Motility hubs, smart, emission-free and shared mobility
- Transforming recycling stations to environmental parks
- Reuse department, municipal reuse of furniture, inventory and building materials
- FutureBuilt Bergen, innovation program for sustainable urban development
- Grøn region vestland, regional coordination programme facilitating industrial symbiosis
- One Ocean Bergen, partnership for sustainable and knowledge based marine industries
- Reuse week, a week dedicated to boosting reuse and repair culture
- Proptech innovation, circular economy projects
Support from CSO
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