Most Norwegians believe that the negative consequences of climate change are either in the future or will never come. This is shown by figures from this year’s individual survey in the Norwegian climate monitor. 1954 people answered the question “When do you think that Norway will seriously notice the negative consequences of climate change (more rain, drought, storms, landslides, floods and storm surges)?” Here it emerges that 44 per cent of those questioned believe that we are now feeling the consequences. “When do you think that Norway will really feel the negative consequences of climate change?” Graphic: Norwegian climate monitor – I think it says something that we are doing quite well and that we are not experiencing the worst consequences of climate change, says researcher at Vestlandsforsking, Torbjørn Selseng. It is the first time this question has been asked in the individual survey. Climate skepticism among Norwegians Selseng has participated in the data collection and is not surprised by the number. – Norwegians are a bit curious, if you stand outside and look in. We are quite climate sceptical – it is Saudi Arabia first, and so is us. Researcher at Vestlandsforsking, Torbjørn Selseng, is not surprised by the speech. Photo: Endre Hilleren Previous studies have shown that every fourth Norwegian does not believe that human activity affects climate change. That amounts to 1.3 million climate skeptics in Norwegians. Selseng could wish that more people realized how serious climate change is. – We have a big job to do. To do that job, we need people to pull together. He is nevertheless satisfied that their study shows that only 8 per cent believe that we will never notice the negative consequences of climate change. Extreme weather is coming more frequently – I am in any case among the 44 percent who believe that climate change is happening now. That’s according to Trond Martin Dokken, executive vice president for climate and environment at the research institution NORCE. According to him, climate change can already be clearly felt, also in Norway. He points, among other things, to the large flume in Voss this autumn, and that such flumes come at more frequent intervals. At Voss, there have been five 20-year-olds in the last eight years. Photo: Sjur Mikal Dolve / news In addition, he points to the snow line slowly but surely moving upwards, and that there is less and less ice around Svalbard. – All reports and all research indicate that the cause of global, regional and local warming is linked to higher concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere, says Dokken. Climate in the future According to the Norwegian Climate Services Centre, these are climate changes that will apply to Norway until the end of this century. Annual temperature: Increase of approx. 2.7 ºC (range from 2.1 to 3.5 ºC) Annual precipitation: Increase of approx. 10% The torrential rain episodes will become stronger and they will occur more frequently. The rain plumes are getting bigger and coming more often. Snowmelt plumes are becoming fewer and smaller In low-lying areas, the snow will almost disappear for many years, while in the high mountains there may be larger amounts of snow in some areas. There will be fewer glaciers and those that remain have become much smaller. The sea level rises between 15 and 55 cm depending on the location. Source: Norwegian Climate Service Center The Norwegian Climate Service Center is a collaboration between the Meteorological Institute, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, NORCE and the Bjerkness Center. The Norwegian Climate Service Center is headed by Anita Verpe Dyrrdal from the Meteorological Institute, and it is she who has given news a say in this case. Least unrest in FRP The survey also shows that which party one votes for has a lot to say. Over 90 per cent of those who vote SV and MDG answered that they think they feel the consequences of climate change now or within the next ten years. But among FRP voters, only a third believe the same. 27 percent believe climate change will never occur. Graphic: Norsk Klimamonitor – Our voters are perhaps a bit more skeptical of what can be called the climate lobby, but in sum we are also concerned with reducing climate emissions and making climate adaptation, says Terje Søviknes in the FRP. Photo: Silje Rognsvåg / news He believes that the figures show that the population is divided in their opinions about climate change. – I find that most people are a bit more balanced on the issue of climate change than you might get the impression of when you follow the political and social debate about this team. – It is important for us who make decisions to be informed about what the population thinks in order to be able to get the policy right, says Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap). He believes that the reason why fewer Norwegians say they are experiencing climate change here and now may be that Norway has so far been spared the worst climate events. The minister underlines that the survey nevertheless shows that a large majority of the population believes that they are already noticing climate change now or that they will be affected in the future.
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Less than half of Norwegians do not think climate change will affect Norway now – news Vestland
