Urban Environment Agreements – a Way Forward? The Negotiations, the Coordination and the Possible Effects, 2019

Urban environment agreements entails that the state, the county administration and municipalities are cooperating in order to achieve the goals incorporated in the climate settlement and the national transport plan elaborated by the Norwegian "Storting". This project aimed to investigate what potential all compassing urban environment agreements have to achieve sustainable living-, area- and transport developments. Research on urban environment agreements and negotiations of these provides a unique opportunity to study the interaction between the different administrative levels, and how state intentions of influencing local use of measures can be reconciled with the interests and needs to fulfill local wishes and priorities of the municipalities. This project studied how urban environment agreements are designed in the interaction between state, regional and local authorities, and what challenges and opportunities that arise out of this interaction. Further, the project wanted to look at the interaction and coordination between the urban environment agreements, urban development agreements and relevant plan processes and how this can influence the outcome of the urban environment agreements. The project also wanted to address the implementation barriers and opportunities in the urban environment agreements, and whether or not the measures that are included are appropriate in order to achieve the goals stated. The urban environment agreements are new ways to safeguard the interaction between the administrative levels. There is little knowledge both internationally and nationally concerning these kinds of management tools and measurement packages. Scientifically, it is therefore important to gain knowledge of this management instrument. The project was carried out in cooperation with societal actors, and included several central sections in a reference group. Actors like KS, ROM Eiendom and the Norwegian Directorate of Health were also participating in the project with their own work contribution and direct funding. With the active user involvement planned in the project, the project ensured that the parties involved constructed knowledge within their own organization, that relevant knowledge that these actors holds are benefiting the project, and that the results of the project are promptly passed on to the actors. The project lasted from 01.09.2016-31.08.2019. Transcribed interview data cannot be sufficiently anonymized (for occupation, municipality, sector) without losing total relevance for the study. These cannot therefore be disclosed as the informants are promised full anonymity. The interview guide used in interviews in the case municipalities is available for downloading. The interview guide was also used for state-level interviews, but was then adapted for that purpose. The interview guide is freely available for downloading.