After spending eight months in Norway studying environmental science in perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever been, I have learned a fair amount about how and why Norway prioritizes taking care of its environment.
One of the main reasons I believe Norway is able to prioritize taking care of its environment is simply because people care. Norwegian citizens are active people, not necessarily in the traditional sense that they run every day or go to the gym three times a week, they are active outside. Bouldering up rock walls, hiking mountains, skiing, kayaking, scuba diving, all of these activities are part of a Norwegian concept called Friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-liv). This is the concept of getting outside to create a passion for nature which can be translated into a desire to preserve the environment. The relationship Norwegians have with nature begins at a young age and runs deep within their culture. This passion drives citizens to push for greener laws and motivates governors to make sustainable decisions, and it works.
When I got off my seven-hour bus ride north from Oslo to my town of Sogndal, one of the first things I noticed was the air - it was clean, crisp, mountain air, free from any noticeable traces of pollution. This has a lot to do with the fact that Norway is the number one country in the world for the use of electric vehicles as opposed to gasoline-powered vehicles. As well, litter is almost non-existent, driven by this concept of Friluftsliv. I also met plenty of fellow vegetarians during my studies, as the meat industry is a large contributor to atmospheric pollution and again, the concept of Friluftsliv drives this notion. Some decisions are driven by the government, but many are driven directly by every day citizens who actively choose to care and make personal choices that reflect this dedication to the environment.
With Earth Day around the corner (April 22nd), I hope that people are able to search for a personal memory with nature where they felt at home, or at peace, or a responsibility to take care of our Earth. One of the best ways to motivate people to care is to remind them of personal experiences and to get them involved in making new memories in connection with the environment. My time in Norway may have been cut short but I am continuing my studies online and I am looking forward to carrying this idea of Friluftsliv with me, especially in these difficult times where the Coronavirus may cause a disconnect from other people, let us use it as a time to reconnect with nature.
- Hannah St. Louis
Currently, I am working towards completing my third year of my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science/Studies at Trent University. For my third year of this degree I chose to do a year abroad in Sogndal, Norway. In Norway I participated in the “Mountains to Fjords” program from August until December and the “Geohazards and Climate Change” program from January until June, although this program will be continued online due to the Coronavirus. I am originally from Markham, Ontario, where I still live in the summer with my parents and my two brothers, the rest of the year I live and study in Peterborough, Ontario. I am not certain on what I would like to pursue post-graduation, however, I know I would like to work outside, perhaps surveying the land or sampling certain aspects of the environment, I still have another year of school to help me figure this out. Below, I have provided a couple of extra resources that have helped me through my studies that contain further information for those who are interested.
This is a link to my university’s webpage and it takes you directly to a description of my first semester program “Mountains to Fjords”. https://www.hvl.no/en/studies-at-hvl/study-programmes/2020h/fmf/
This is a link to a resource I found particularly interesting and important when I was working on my final science project of my first semester where we looked at the impacts of the newly built hydropower plant on the Sognefjord and the Barsnesfjord water ways. http://www.vannportalen.no/globalassets/nasjonalt/engelsk/reports-and-publications-in-english/summary-repport-for-norway-wed-article-5-characterisation-mai-2013-report_wfd_art5_norway_results_2013_am1fh.pdf
This is a link to the Sognefjord municipality’s webpage. https://en.sognefjord.no/fjord-villages/towns-and-villages/sogndal