Renewable Svalbard

Nowhere in the world is warming faster than in the Arctic. The consequences of climate change are therefore particularly evident on Svalbard. Because with a warmer, wetter and wilder climate comes new challenges, which the residents of Longyearbyen are already witnessing.

The changes that are happening on Svalbard now will come to the mainland in a short time. Norwegian politicians are therefore taking world leaders to Svalbard to show how quickly climate change is actually occurring.

At the same time, the island community has been 100 percent dependent on coal until autumn 2023. Longyearbyen local council has put forward an ambitious energy transition plan, and from the autumn of 2023 the power supply was switched from coal to diesel, and renewable energy sources will gradually be phased in towards 2030.

During the next six years, the conversion on Svalbard will therefore become a unique test arena for energy solutions that can contribute to the conversion of other island communities globally and strengthen Norwegian export industry.

Store Norske has identified 1,500 similar locations in Arctic regions, which can use renewable system solutions that Norwegian companies are developing for Svalbard.

Skift's members want to be a driving force in the transition to a green and sustainable society. Our members have high climate ambitions - and that is why Skift is so strongly committed to the transformation in Svalbard.

Several of the members are also active in the archipelago and through close cooperation, Svalbard can become both a showcase for climate solutions and a learning arena for climate adaptation.

For a Norwegian business community looking for new export opportunities, a conversion to renewable energy will provide opportunities to test and demonstrate future solutions for energy conversion in demanding Arctic conditions.

In spring 2023, Store Norske hosted the CEO meeting, which was combined with a study trip to Svalbard. There, close to 40 top managers from the Skift network were presented with examples of concrete challenges in connection with climate change, but also inspiring solutions for how to adapt to a warmer, wetter and wilder climate.

In collaboration with local businesses, academia and Longyearbyen local government, Skift and our members have worked on the Svalbard Declaration. This declaration points to concrete action that the members of Skift, national authorities and the Svalbard community can take to make Svalbard and Longyearbyen a climate role model for the world.

Svalbard is a compact and complete society in the far north, which is already living with the serious consequences of climate change. The temperature on Svalbard has increased by over 6 degrees in just twenty years. Melting permafrost, with rapidly changing weather and wind, causes significant damage to infrastructure and buildings. Svalbard is an observatory for climate change.

Svalbard can also become a showcase for climate solutions. Longyearbyen local council has drawn up an ambitious energy transition plan. From autumn 2023, the power supply in Longyearbyen will be switched from coal to diesel, and renewable energy sources will gradually be phased in towards 2030. The financing of this conversion cannot be borne by Svalbard's 2,600 inhabitants alone, but will be relieved by the state.

Longyearbyen as a zero-emissions community - with high delivery reliability - will have an enormous symbolic effect by showing that this is possible in the world's northernmost community. Zero emissions are still possible to reach by 2030, but require rapid measures. To succeed, Skift has the following suggestions.

Longyearbyen must show that zero emissions are possible in the world's northernmost community. This requires action from the government, the local community and business!