Stavanger and Trondheim receive one million euros from the EU

Stavanger and Trondheim have received one million euros from the EU to support their work towards climate neutrality. The funds will be used for the "Empowered Governance" project, which aims to develop new management models to cut emissions and achieve climate goals faster.

The project is a collaboration between the two cities, the University of Stavanger, Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA), and the Trondheim Region Chamber of Commerce. The EU funding is part of the NetZeroCities initiative, where Stavanger and Trondheim are among 112 European cities working to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2030.

"This is a major recognition of the work we are already doing in Stavanger and Trondheim. With these funds, we can collaborate even better with residents, businesses, and academia to achieve our goals," says the Mayor of Stavanger, Tormod Losnedal.

Line Fjørstad, City Commissioner for Environment, Business, and Transport in Trondheim, adds:

"We now have a unique opportunity to guide this work in a way that is inclusive, effective, and raises awareness about what climate neutrality means locally."

A complex process with big ambitions

Cutting emissions and becoming climate-neutral is a major challenge. With support from the EU, Stavanger and Trondheim hope to demonstrate how collaboration between residents, businesses, and the public sector can create solutions that both reduce emissions and secure a sustainable future.

"The goal of the project is to solve the challenges we face today, such as unclear structures and a lack of collaboration. We want to turn knowledge into concrete actions and ensure that both residents and businesses are involved," says Torstein Langeland from the Trondheim Region Chamber of Commerce.

Through this partnership, the project will develop and test a research-based management model. Stavanger will focus on residual emissions, carbon capture, and storage, while Trondheim will prioritise waste management and the circular economy.

"This project represents a new way of working, with a level of complexity and scope we have not seen before. We are therefore very pleased to receive funding that allows us to collaborate with some of the country’s leading experts on public governance and co-creation," says Ann-Karin Tennås Holmen from the University of Stavanger.

National Importance

The work done in Stavanger and Trondheim could be of great importance to other Norwegian municipalities. The project emphasises transparency, a fair transition, and a data-driven approach. Through workshops, research, and sharing experiences, the project will build knowledge and capacity for climate action in both cities, creating solutions that can be adopted by other municipalities and urban communities.

"When two of Norway's largest cities lead the way in this work, we can share experiences and solutions with the rest of the country. Municipal efforts are absolutely essential for Norway to reach its national climate goals faster," says Tor Inge Hjemdal, CEO of DOGA.

The project will develop a new management model that facilitates more collaboration between residents, businesses, and researchers, while ensuring that research-based knowledge becomes a key part of the process.

"The fight against climate change is something we all must participate in, and this project gives us a unique opportunity to be part of the solution," Mayor of Stavanger, Tormod Losnedal, and Trondheim's City Commissioner for Environment, Business, and Transport, Line Fjørstad, firmly agree.