In many cases extended cooperation and a new way of thinking will be necessary. Allow me therefore to express my hope that the Auditor General will take interest in the implementation and running of the system, and see to that the intentions are being met. It is my view that the market economy can promote eco-efficiency and sound utilization of resources if environmental costs are also integrated in economic decision making. Therefore, we will develop economic instruments to help integrate environmental considerations into the economy and to provide financial incentives to act in environmentally-friendly ways. Economic instruments such as tradeable emission quotas, environmental taxes, deposit and return systems and grants are all examples of this.
Environmental policy needs a firm local base .
On the principle that local environmental problems should be solved locally, the municipal sector has been given independent responsibilities in many areas, such as land use and waste management. It is the Government s intention to widen local authorities scope for environmental decision making, thus giving a boost to local democracy and responsibility. The state exercises control by setting environmental goals and minimum standards as well as through national legislation. Many environmental issues have been put on the political agenda as a result of popular initiatives . In Norway, as in other countries, the emergence of environmental protection as a policy area has largely taken place from grass-roots level, through ad hoc groups, NGOs etc.