Here, there has been the greatest increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2009-2022. Only three other counties have an increase in emissions. The rest have cut. Oslo has had the largest decrease with 27.8 per cent, largely due to more electric cars and the end of oil burning. Change in direct greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2009-2022 divided by the country’s counties. Photo: Trøndelag county council news has previously written about the Norwegian Environment Agency’s latest calculations which show that greenhouse gas emissions in Norway decreased slightly in 2022. At this rate, we will reach the climate target 13 years late, in 2043. Industry, the largest source of emissions, Trøndelag wants to reach the national targets of halve climate emissions by 2030. But now the county is moving in the wrong direction. And it is urgent to turn things around, says the county mayor. – We depend on everyone taking responsibility. The industry has particular challenges. We cannot pursue a policy that shuts down production, we must contribute to readjusting it, says Thomas Iver Hallem. The county mayor in Trøndelag, Thomas Iver Hallem, says that it is urgent to turn things around. Photo: Morten Andersen Industry is the biggest source of emissions in Trøndelag. Here, emissions in industry have increased by 104.6 per cent since 2009. In 2022, the smelters in Orkland and Heim will account for around 65 per cent of emissions from industry. In addition, there are large emissions linked to the lime works in Verdal and Inderøy. Sondre Valle Hestvik is plant manager at Elkem Thamshavn in Orkland. He tells news that the smelter accounts for some of the world’s most climate-friendly production of silicon, with a third of the emissions that are common globally. – This is something the world needs more of, not less of, to realize a sustainable future. Must invest to develop Hestvik points out that 2009 was during the financial crisis – and a year of exceptionally low production. In the last ten years, the smelter has not increased. The energy they use is based on renewable hydropower. – But we are still dependent on a carbon source in the chemical production process. Here we use a good deal of fossil carbon, which results in fossil emissions. This is to be replaced with climate-neutral biocarbon. Sondre Valle Hestvik is plant manager at Elkem Thamshavn in Orkland. He adds that they recover a third of the electrical energy used. And that they have a recycling plant that supplies heat to the local environment. Photo: Elkem Thamshavn To achieve this and the goal of expanding carbon capture at the works, they are dependent on competitive conditions. – Not least we must have framework conditions that ensure that we can invest to develop the industry, and not risk carbon leakage to other countries with less focus on the environment and climate, says Hestvik. Managing director Torbjørn Halland at the Wacker Holla smelter in Heim is also calling for it. – Extra taxes such as the CO2 compensation that came in the autumn do not help much when we have to drive the amount of investment we need to switch from fossil to bio. It puts a bit of a damper on progress, he says. Here, capacity has increased by 40 per cent after they got a new oven in 2019. – Then the CO2 emissions will also increase accordingly, he says. Wacker Holla is a cornerstone company on Kyrksæterøra in Heim. Photo: Stein Lorentzen / news – Local politicians must get help Sirin Stav (MDG) is a former environmental councillor, now head of the Oslo City Council’s environmental committee. She tells news that it is a fair and powerful environmental policy that has given Oslo such a big decline. – One of the first MDGs we did when we came to power in Oslo was to speed up the climate goals of the Left and Right by 20 years, tenfold the pace of the cycling initiative, and take much better care of our nature. At the same time, we have made public transport better and cheaper. Sirin Stav believes that the government must contribute much more. Photo: Olav Juven The differences show that it matters a lot who is in charge, believes Stav. – But it also shows that we need a much fairer environmental policy going forward, such as cheaper and better train and public transport services, more cycle paths, and more support for other green measures such as energy saving. She believes the Støre government is failing. – They impose motorways on the big cities, destroy valuable nature, and refuse to reduce taxes on everything from public transport, to fruit and vegetables and repairs. If we are to succeed in our environmental efforts, the government must give local politicians much more support. Will give young people a clear voice The county mayor in Trøndelag is also clear that the national authorities need to do more. – We are dependent on a national industrial policy that regulates the legislation, gives intensives to the companies and contributes directly with infrastructure that supports our business life in this transition. And we will be involved as a partner, says Hallem. In Trøndelag, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.1 per cent in 2022. Now the county politicians want to establish a separate main committee for preparedness, nature and climate. It should be up and running in April. They will also establish a new regional climate and nature committee. Key actors in Trøndelag will be invited here. In addition, young people must have a clear voice. – We want to listen to the young people who will take over Trøndelag. They must be involved in setting the conditions for the decisions to be made, says Hallem.
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Greenhouse gas emissions increase the most in Trøndelag – in Oslo there is the biggest decrease – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
