“You are in the mountains to be in nature.”: A Local Community’s Expected Environmental Injustices in Norway’s Green Transition.

Abstract

This master thesis investigates the expected consequences that the local community and Sámi pastoralists in Kvænangen municipality in Nord-Troms, Norway, have on the proposed idea of developing a wind power plant in the landscape, particularly by power companies Troms Kraft and Ymber, and thus what efforts are needed to mitigate negative opinions potentially. Since the publication of the Truth and Reconciliation report in 2023 and considering the Fosen case in Norway, Indigenous people and local communities have had a sharpened focus on local and indigenous involvement in clean power production.

The Environmental Justice framework reviews how an Indigenous people and local community may experience further land encroachment in the Olmmáirášša mountain that has local value. Using this framework, I analyze what injustices may be experienced in a process like this and how to mitigate them. Troms Kraft and Ymber’s published feasibility study, opinion pieces, and national and local newspaper reports identify the landscape users in Kvænangen municipality to be primarily critical to a wind power plant. Through qualitative interviews with participants with connections to Kvænangen municipality, participants communicate various expected issues in the cultural, economic, and ecological spheres, in addition to needs for mitigating purposes.

The findings show that the locals show particular interest in the loss of their landscape for what they use today, mainly outdoor life activities and Sámi reindeer pastoralism. This includes fear of land encroachments such as road and wind turbine infrastructure on pastures. Further, worries about access to the landscape for recreational reasons and fear of identity loss among the local Sámi pastoralists. Finally, Kvænangen’s municipality treasury would likely benefit from a wind power plant. However, the Sámi pastoralists fear that their livelihood would suffer greatly.

This thesis illustrates the participants’ thoughts on the landscape loss in the municipality and the decision-making that the municipality’s politicians make. It suggests mitigating strategies and recommends how power companies could move forward with communication between the relevant parties if the development is approved.