Oslo wins international climate award for zero-emission heavy transport

“This is a great recognition of Oslo’s many years of focused work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it is the result of close and good cooperation with the business community,” says Governing Mayor Eirik Lae Solberg.

The Local Leaders Climate Awards are presented to cities that demonstrate climate leadership by reducing emissions and developing sustainable transport solutions. Oslo won in the category Clean, Reliable Transportation and was recognised for its comprehensive efforts to deploy zero-emission trucks, and for the project Pioneer City for Zero-Emission Heavy Transport.

The award was shared with São Paulo, which was recognised for its programme to electrify its bus fleet. In each category, one international city and one Brazilian city are awarded.

“I would particularly like to thank the key actors in the business community who have taken responsibility and acted quickly to make heavy transport zero-emission. This is an award I want to share with Oslo’s business community,” says Lae Solberg.

The award adds to a series of international recognitions received by the City of Oslo in recent years for its work to make the city greener and more liveable, including European Sustainable City Award 2003 and European Green Capital 2019.

“I hope this award can also inspire other cities to find new ways to cut emissions,” says Vice Mayor Eirik Lae Solberg.

Five years ago, heavy transport in Oslo consisted almost entirely of diesel vehicles. By 2024, 34 per cent of new trucks over 12 tonnes are electric or ran on biogas – more than twice the national average.

“We have achieved this by setting clear requirements in public procurement, enabling charging infrastructure, and making electric trucks economically viable through exemptions in the road traffic user payment system and support schemes. Close dialogue with the business community has been crucial when designing the measures. Local climate policy can have major impact – even globally,” says Marit Vea, Vice Mayor for Environment and Transport.

The progress is the result of a comprehensive set of policy instruments:

• Exemptions from the road traffic user payment system for electric and biogas trucks, valid until 2030, combined with higher charges for fossil-fuelled trucks

• Requirements for zero-emission transport in the City of Oslo’s procurements

• Expansion of fast-charging infrastructure and biogas filling stations through the Climate and Energy Fund and municipal investments

• Close and continuous dialogue with the business community to ensure predictability and practical solutions

Oslo has worked systematically to make heavy transport zero-emission since 2020, when the Pioneer City for Zero-Emission Heavy Transport project was launched to reduce emissions from heavy transport.

“Heavy transport accounts for more than 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in Oslo. Effective measures for this vehicle group are therefore essential to reduce emissions. Through this project, we have succeeded,” says Margrethe Lunder, Project Manager and Climate Advisor at the Climate Agency.

The award was announced at the Local Leaders Climate Awards Recognition Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on 4 November, as part of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum. The forum brings together mayors, governors and other leaders to highlight and accelerate local climate action, which is crucial to achieving global climate goals. The forum is organised by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies to strengthen partnerships and advance a shared agenda for local climate results.

This story was originally published in Norwegian November, 2025