Environment agency considers larger snowmobile-free areas on Svalbard

NRK reported on 13 October that Miljødirektoratet (the Norwegian Environment Agency) has assessed the need for changes to the rules for motorised traffic, in a report the newspaper was given access to. According to NRK, the agency points to a need to set start and end dates for the snowmobile season, steer snowmobile traffic onto fixed routes and reduce the areas where snowmobiles are allowed. NRK gave climate change and increased traffic on Svalbard as the background.

NRK also reported that Bolterdalen is named as an area where the present seasonal ban on driving could apply all year. Klima- og miljødepartementet (the Ministry of Climate and Environment) confirmed to NRK that it has received the assessment.

Jo Gytri, deputy leader of Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council), said to NRK that it is unfortunate that the agency weighs the environment so one-sidedly. Jo Gytri said it appears to overlook safety and the Svalbard policy goal of making it attractive for Norwegians to live on Svalbard.

Correction, 27 October 2026: an earlier version gave the local council deputy leader's criticism but not the reasons the directorate was asked to make its assessment, and did not name his party. It now gives both.

Coverage: NRK