On Friday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl presented a new report on total preparedness titled “Forberedt på krise og krig” (Prepared for Crisis and War).
The strategy builds upon the findings of the Total Preparedness Commission, chaired by Harald Sunde, whose report was delivered to the government in June 2023. The report underscores the urgent need for a robust system to address a range of challenges, including pandemics, extreme weather events, and cyberattacks.
Strengthening Civil Society for Crisis and War
Prime Minister Støre highlighted the report’s comprehensive vision:
“In recent years, we have faced a pandemic, extreme weather, and cyberattacks. The Total Preparedness Report aims to equip Norway to better prevent and manage such incidents. We must ensure that civil society is prepared for both crisis and war, supporting military efforts and countering multifaceted threats.”
Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl called the report a historic milestone:
“This marks a turning point for Norway’s preparedness. We are leaving behind the post-1990s era of readiness based on deep peace. Going forward, we must plan for a new reality.”
Three Pillars, 100 Action Points
The strategy outlines three primary goals:
- A civil society prepared for crisis and war.
- A civil society resilient against composite threats.
- A civil society that supports military efforts.
The government has identified over 100 actionable points to achieve these goals. Key initiatives include:
- Developing a long-term plan for civil preparedness, including police reforms, starting in 2025.
- Mandating preparedness councils in all municipalities, regions, and critical sectors to foster collaboration among emergency responders, volunteers, and private enterprises.
- Increasing Civil Defense personnel from 8,000 to 12,000 over eight years.
- Repealing the 1998 ban on building shelters and requiring shelters in new construction projects.
- Boosting funding for volunteer rescue organizations by NOK 100 million over eight years, in addition to NOK 6 million allocated in the current budget.
- Introducing legislation for civil labor obligations during security crises or war.
- Achieving a 50% self-sufficiency rate by 2030 and enhancing emergency grain storage to last three months by 2029.
- Launching a new public-private cyber preparedness framework to manage severe cyber incidents.
- Strengthening maritime and territorial controls in collaboration with the Armed Forces.
- Establishing a national property ownership registry to complement the new corporate ownership transparency initiative.
- Developing strategies to counter disinformation and enhance public media literacy.
- Contributing to NATO’s civil resilience initiatives and fostering Nordic and international preparedness collaborations, including in health.
- Regularly convening a Total Preparedness Commission.
- Drafting a national security strategy.
A Cultural Shift in Preparedness
Justice Minister Mehl emphasized the importance of fostering a preparedness culture across all sectors of society:
“To handle crises and the unforeseen, we must collaborate and unite. We’ve achieved this before, even as a poorer nation, and we will do so again. A culture of preparedness must permeate all aspects of society.”
This landmark strategy signals Norway’s commitment to building a resilient and proactive civil defense system, ensuring the nation is equipped to face an increasingly uncertain future.
