Unfortunately, wind turbines and solar power are of no use when the house is flooded.
It’s strange how little attention is paid to everything that works. Here in Norway, we’ve been spoilt for generations with clean, good-quality water. We appreciate it when we come home from holiday. Apart from that, we give very little thought to the valuable infrastructure buried underground that ensures we have access to this vital resource.
The weather has changed
Climate scientists do, however, agree that it is water that will pose the greatest problems for Norway in the future. Precipitation is expected to increase by 18 per cent by 2100 unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The increase may even be greater than that.
Climate change is already here. The average temperature has risen by 1.3 degrees. It is short-term rainfall that has increased the most. We can see that the weather has changed – torrential rain and flooding have become much more common. And this comes at a cost.
Focus on maintenance
The Norwegian authorities have committed to reducing emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. If, however, you ask a politician what we should do about climate change, they often reply that we must electrify our vehicle fleet, erect more wind turbines and buy carbon credits. That is of little help when the drains burst in the cellar, the house is flooded by uncontrolled surface water or, in the worst case, is swept away by a flood. By then, it is too late to regret having voted for politicians who are not concerned with maintenance.
It is only when floods occur and there is a disproportionate amount of rainfall that we are reminded of the standard of our water and sewerage systems in Norway. A standard that we cannot take for granted.
We cannot build our way out of the climate crisis
Norsk Vann constantly tells our authorities that water and sewerage systems in Norwegian municipalities require investment totalling NOK 280 billion. Yet no politician campaigns on a promise to allocate several hundred million kroner to upgrading sewer pipes. There is little doubt that ribbon-cutting ceremonies take precedence over rehabilitation.
We cannot build our way out of the climate crisis. The construction industry is responsible for significant CO₂ emissions both globally and nationally, and it takes many decades for an energy-efficient new build to «pay for itself» in climate terms. It is not better for the climate to demolish and rebuild than to renovate. Our children know this, because they learn about reuse and recycling at school. We need politicians who understand this too.
It must be embarrassing to cut the ribbons
For whilst we must cut our greenhouse gas emissions, we must also adapt to a wilder and wetter climate. Here, the public sector can lead by example. Public procurement accounts for around 500 billion every single year, and climate-smart public procurement can contribute to significant emissions reductions. We need to think differently, because it is through refurbishment and smarter use of existing buildings and infrastructure that we can make a difference, both in terms of climate adaptation and emissions cuts. It must become embarrassing to cut ribbons and a point of pride to carry out refurbishments.
Could become a new growth sector for Norway
As an industry, we are keen to contribute both to reducing emissions and to providing smart solutions. At present, our people are hardly visible in the public eye. Unfortunately, the media do not seem to find it particularly interesting to interview people who work in the trenches. That is why so few people realise just how many jobs we represent. The Norwegian water sector today comprises a complete value chain of water and wastewater treatment plants, technology companies, consultancy firms, and highly specialised educational and research institutions.
We have everything we need to maintain existing infrastructure using local labour before the tasks become so large that only major multinational corporations are equipped to handle them.
It is absolutely essential that we prepare our society for a more extreme and wetter climate; our focus must therefore be on maintaining existing infrastructure as well as building new, smarter solutions with the lowest possible emissions. This is expertise that will be in demand far beyond our national borders. Therefore, dear politicians, the water sector is a shining example of a potential growth industry in the green transition, on a par with wind turbines, solar energy and electric ferries.
CC Sibbern, Chief Executive Officer, Vitek AS