How should Norway manage its wealth – for the world, for ourselves and for future generations?
56 ordinary Norwegians from all over the country have worked intensively on this question in the Future Panel. On Tuesday 13 May, they will hand over their recommendations to seven key civil society organizations, who will now take the baton forward.
The Future Panel is a national citizens’ council and an ambitious democratic experiment: a representative sample of the population that has participated in a process of training, reflection and deep debate – and together have come up with 19 concrete recommendations for how Norway should manage its resources.
“Oil money should contribute to making the world better, not just Norway richer. We can help reduce poverty, develop more green energy, reduce conflicts and strengthen democracies. This makes the world safer for all of us. At the same time, we must also continue to develop Norway,” says Jonas Krogh (31) from Fredrikstad, member of the Future Panel
The Future Panel has prepared recommendations commissioned by seven civil society organizations:
– Save the Children
– Norwegian Church Aid
– LNU (Landsrådet for Norges barne- og ungdomsorganisasjoner)
– Caritas
– WWF Verdens naturfond
– Langsikt – think tank for long-term policy
– Framtiden i våre hender
Now the panel’s recommendations are handed over to the organizations, all of which have committed to disseminate them, use them actively and bring them to the attention of decision makers
“We’re not politicians and we’re not running for office. But we are citizens and co-owners of Norway’s wealth. Therefore, we can point to what really matters in the long term,” says Tom Erik Hovde (53) from Lillehammer
The 19 recommendations presented by the Future Panel are divided into five main themes in the report:
- The oil fund – the people’s fund, shared responsibility: New guidelines for the use of the fund, a stronger ethical framework and investments that create lasting value.
- Democracy, trust and critical thinking: Proposals for an independent future ombudsman, strengthened civic education in schools and increased use of citizen panels in policy decisions
- Solidarity and global responsibility:Greater investment in health, education and climate action around the world – and closer international partnerships.
- Sustainable development: More support for renewable energy, green innovation and a conscious scaling down of overconsumption.
- A stronger Norway: Focus on better infrastructure, technological development, emergency preparedness – and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Read the recommendations and learn more about the panel at: www.framtidspanelet.no