Norway National Platform

History

Norway established its national platform for DRR (Samvirkeområdet natur) on 1 September 2011, and it was re-established in 2016. It is set up as an authority network of government agencies and other stakeholders focusing on natural hazards (geological and hydrometeorological). 

The national risk assessment concluded that extreme weather and landslides are among the hazards most likely to affect Norway, and that they can have severe consequences. The Arctic climate in the north gives an extra dimension to present hazards, which may increase with climate change.

Structure

The following bodies are represented in the national platform: 

• A representative from the County Governors
• Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
• Norwegian Environment Agency; Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection; Norwegian Building Authority; Norwegian Agriculture Agency; Norwegian Mapping Authority; Norwegian Public Roads Administration; Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate; and Norwegian National Rail Administration
• Geological Survey of Norway and Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Mandate

Naturfareforum (the platform) is a collaborative forum for preventive work for natural hazards. This includes both sudden, dramatic events and more long-term, gradual changes, which in the long term may have consequences for society's vulnerability, including climate change. Through regular meetings, the forum shall exchange information and experiences, and shall take the initiative to start projects, working groups or similar in areas where there are particularly sector-wide challenges. The forum shall identify deficiencies or potential for improvement related to society's prevention and handling of natural hazards, as well as propose measures to address this. The Natural Hazards Forum shall facilitate cooperation between various national, regional and local actors in order to reduce our vulnerability to unwanted natural events, with an emphasis on events and developments of a geological and hydrometeorological nature. The collaboration will follow up on the White Paper on flood and landslides, Meld. St. 15 (2011-2012). Naturfareforum has the status of Norway's national platform for the United Nations global framework for disaster prevention, the Sendai Framework.

Budget

The Platform has currently no specific budget, and activities are financed by DSB as well as by other members of the Platform.