DW: The Norwegian capital plans to cut emissions by 95 percent by 2030, despite being one of Europe’s fastest growing cities. As European Green Capital 2019, it hopes to set an example for others.
Oslo’s waterfront was once a mass of shipping containers and a vast intersection jammed with cars pumping out fumes.
Today, traffic is diverted through an underwater tunnel, and much of it is made up of electric or hybrid cars. Above, the scene is becoming dominated by a new Edvard Munch art museum and central library — both due to open in 2020.
The new development has impressive environmental as well as cultural credentials, with all new buildings meeting energy efficiency standards for low energy use, explains Anita Lindahl Trosdahl, project manager for Oslo’s Green Capital year.
Her office lies further along the waterfront, just a stone’s throw from another cultural behemoth nearing completion — the new national museum.
Meanwhile, new housing is shooting up across the city.
These buildings aren’t just designed to function sustainably, the city council is also making sure their construction has a limited environmental impact, too.
“We’re using our market power to introduce fossil fuel-free construction,” Trosdahl told DW. “So not only will the build in its lifetime be as sustainable as possible, but also during the construction period itself.”
Our time is a news portal