“Lofoten the Green Islands 2030” is a programme and partnership to reach the targets of a green and sustainable society in the Lofoten Islands. “Lofoten the Green Islands” welcomes the European Commission’s initiative on Tourism Transition Pathway, fully supports it targets, and pledges to be a part of the solution, and contributing to reaching the targets within the green and digital transition, as well as increasing the ecosystem’s resilience. 

The aim for the initiative is that by 2030, the Lofoten islands will be Norway's most climate-friendly, resource-smart and renewable travel destination. The region will showcase Norway’s leading management of sustainable travel destinations. The Destination Lofoten has already committed to and achieved status as a sustainable travel destination from Innovation Norway, which is the Norwegian Government's most important instrument for innovation and development of Norwegian enterprises and industry. 

A concrete target for “Lofoten the Green Islands” is to become a low-emission destination, powered by renewable energy in the near-future, through a Road Map for Lofoten the Green Islands, an action plan, setting out concrete targets and actions within six target areas. 

The Road Map includes: 

Lofoten aims to become a low-emission society by 2040 and work effectively to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. 

60 percent of tourism businesses in the region will have their own climate accounting by the end of 2023, as well as a climate budget by 2024. 

Greenhouse gases from the tourism industry in Lofoten Islands will be reduced by 60 percent by 2030. 

By 2030, Lofoten Islands will strengthen its position as a world leading tourist destination by delivering sustainable adventures in nature, culture, food and good cooperation with the local community 

The tourism industry will prioritize the transition to a circular economy, including through the utilization of local resources. 

Tourists travelling to and in Lofoten will use public transport and/or emission-free transport options. In the region, we work strategically to offer a commercial zero-emission route, to Lofoten. 

All six municipalities in the Lofoten Islands have committed to the green transition of both the society and the business sector, in partnership with the energy company Lofotkraft and the tourist destination company Destination Lofoten within the “Lofoten the Green Islands 2030” programme. 

About Lofoten Islands 

The Lofoten islands in North Norway is one of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations. This region of islands is an archipelago with alpine landscape that stretches out from the North Norwegian coastline and inhabits less than 25.000 people working mainly in seafood, tourism and public sector. Lofoten is an attractive place to live, and our business sector is both sustainable and viable. This partnership shall be courageous in a national and international context in the willingness and ability to co-create and promote green and sustainable growth in tourism. Lofoten as a tourist destination will become a preferred testing area and pioneer in piloting low-emission, renewable and regenerative solutions within the tourism industry.