Tag Archives: white paper
Goals of the alt-white: Officials urge funding avalanche safeguards, defining Store Norske’s future in revised ‘white paper’
Build a wall – or at least a few barriers – to prevent unwanted intrusions. Give the coal mining industry a new life. Embrace the Russians while seeking solutions for dangerous territory.
No, Svalbard likely won’t look like Donald Trump’s American, but the proposals were part of the revised “white paper” for Svalbard debated by Parliament on Tuesday. The document outlining policy goals for Svalbard is being updated three years earlier than expected due to a coal price crisis that has shut down nearly all Norwegian operations here.
Power hungry: 20 witnesses detail Svalbard’s future needs during Parliament hearing on revised ‘white paper’
It’s a long wish list and not exactly new, but now it’s officially on the agenda of the deciders.
An underwater power cable from the mainland, revised air traffic regulations, speeding up development of the fishing industry, investing heavily in infrastructure and figuring out what to do with Store Norske were among the many items presented by 20 witnesses last week during a hearing by Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Power plugged: Proposals from solar panels to extension cable to the mainland debated as alternatives to coal
Reality check: Longyearbyen isn’t going to stop burning coal for power during the next year. Or ten. Or maybe even the 25 that represents the existing power plant’s life expectancy.
But a lot of hot air is being generated by those wondering what’s eventually next.
Plugging in a long extension cable to the mainland? An underground hot tub gathering to stay warm? Having folks apply liberal amounts of sun screens?
‘White’ out: Government’s new blueprint for Svalbard does little to alter natural transition into post-mining society
There’s no magical “big” solution, no major new goals not already stated and – aside from 10 million kroner for infrastructure related to the Dec. 19 avalanche – no new hardcore funding commitments.
The long-awaited revision of the “Svalbard Message” – a “white paper” outlining the Norwegian’s policy goals for the archipelago – largely refers to commitments already made to keep coal mining on life support for the next few years while encouraging an expansion of both the size and diversity of private industries, plus an expansion of education and research activities.
Briefs from Svalbardposten for the week of April 12, 2016
Unauthorized dogs face euthanization upon arrival
People arriving in Svalbard with dogs without obtaining the necessary permission and vaccinations risk having the animal euthanized, according to a Norwegian Food Safety Authority official who said one owner faced that situation during the past weekend.
Briefs from Svalbardposten for the week of July 21, 2015
Russia’s inaction nixes joint polar bear census w/ Norway
A joint Norwegian-Russian census of polar bears in the Barents Sea area, the first such count since 2004, has been cancelled after Russia failed to grant authorization for researchers to access its territory in time for the count.
