Today, the Norwegian Environment Agency is launching the report Climate measures in Norway towards 2030. They have analyzed 85 different measures that can reduce national emissions. Only if all the measures are carried out can the emissions in 2030 be 53 per cent lower than they were in 1990, the report states. The climate measure with the greatest potential for emission reductions up to 2030 in Norway is our food consumption and food production. The measure is about the Norwegian population following the current national dietary advice – and that no one eats more than 500 grams of red and processed meat a week. A normal pack of minced meat is 400 grams. The message is clear: The population must change their habits by limiting their intake of red meat, and rather demand more of Norwegian-produced grain, pulses, vegetables, fruit and berries. If we follow all the national dietary advice, Norway can cut emissions equivalent to 4.5 million tonnes of CO2, according to the Norwegian Environment Agency. The report presents a top ten list of measures that can cut the most emissions from 2021 to 2030, and which shows that the dietary advice can give the best results. Difficult to change habits There are currently few measures that ensure a change in diet in the direction of the dietary advice, and there are many barriers, the report states. They point out that people’s habits, attitudes and preferences are difficult to change. The report states that if we change the demand for food, which then affects what is produced, we get the biggest emission cuts in agriculture. Norwegian agricultural production must, as far as we have the conditions for it, produce goods that are in demand in the Norwegian market, the report states. The authors write that this requires a restructuring in several parts of the value chain, including product development and price changes. They suggest better and clearer communication about what is healthy and sustainable food, for example through a scoring system. The public sector can also lead by setting a good example of purchasing food, according to the report. We must do everything, at the same time Norway’s official climate target for 2030 is to cut emissions by 55 per cent compared to 1990. It is our contribution to stopping the worst consequences of the climate crisis. So far, we have cut below five percent. An unprecedented restructuring of the entire society must therefore take place in seven years. Norway’s greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets measured in million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents? Click for explanation of CO₂ equivalents. Norway’s climate target 23.1 million tonnes annually Go to news’s Climate Status What is Norway’s climate target? By 2030, Norway must cut at least 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. The goal is to be achieved in cooperation with the EU. By 2050, 90-95 per cent of Norwegian emissions must be cut. This means that we must cut emissions at record speed. In the last ten years we have managed to cut around 5 million tonnes, in the next ten we will cut around 25 million tonnes. How will Norway reach the climate target? Norway must cut emissions in two ways, because the sources of emissions can be divided into two: Emissions subject to a quota: This are particularly emissions from industry and the oil/gas platforms. The emissions are covered by the EU’s quota system: In order to emit greenhouse gases, the industry must buy permits (quotas) in the EU at the price determined by the quota market. Steadily higher prices and fewer allowances will force emissions cuts where it is easiest to implement. Non-eligible emissions: These are greenhouse gas emissions from, among other things, transport, agriculture, waste and heating in buildings. This is called the non-quota-obligatory sector because you do not need quotas to release greenhouse gases. How Norway can cut emissions in this sector is described in the specialist report “Climate cure 2030”. The politicians decide which of the measures from the report are to be implemented. Norway can also cut non-quota-obligatory emissions by paying for emission cuts in other European countries. The government says that it plans to meet the targets without using this option, but it can be used if it becomes “strictly necessary”. For Norway, the emissions in the two sectors are roughly the same: in 2019, they released around 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gases each .What happens if Norway does not reach the climate target? It could be politically embarrassing. A likely solution is that Norway chooses to pay for emission cuts in other countries. Norway can also be subject to sanctions if we do not reach the targets we have agreed with the EU. Norway must regularly report cuts to the UN, in line with the targets set in the Paris Agreement. Here, no sanctions are stipulated for those who do not fulfill their obligations. The report shows that it is still possible to reach the targets. But time is short and we can no longer pick and choose between solutions. – It takes time to develop new tools, to change behavior and to get new technology in place. If it is to be possible to achieve such large emission cuts as quickly as we have assumed, there is a need for very rapid development of climate policy, Ellen Hambro, Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. – So to speak, everything we have investigated must be carried out, and much must happen in parallel, if the goals are to be achieved. New dietary advice on the way A joint Nordic expert group believes that Norwegians should eat a maximum of 350 grams of red meat a week for reasons of health and the environment. The council faces strong opposition from Agriculture Minister Sandra Borch (Sp). The dietary advice from the joint Nordic expert group, known as NNR2023, is now out for consultation and will be presented on 20 June.
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