– People think short-term – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

A few days before the climate summit starts in Egypt, a new survey shows that the population is not as concerned about climate now as in previous years. Other conditions are now even more important, according to the survey from Kantar. – The reason is concern about war and a pandemic. Many are worried about the defense situation in Norway and the situation in the health service, says Eva Fosby Livgard, who is responsible for Kantar’s climate barometer. These are areas that most people have paid little attention to in the past, but which have received increasing attention due to the war in Ukraine. 38 per cent of the population now see climate as one of the three biggest challenges for the country – a decrease of 8 percentage points from last year, according to the climate barometer. Mental health and high energy costs “Increasing social” differences and “Tasks in the health service” are ranked higher this year, both with 48 per cent. Among young people, engagement is higher now than it was 10 years ago, but not as great as a year ago. – What causes engagement to decline among young people under 30? – Several surveys show that many young people struggled with mental health problems during the pandemic, and that high energy costs hit young people particularly hard. This could be the reason why climate is being de-prioritised, says Livgard. People under the age of 30 also put the health service and social differences ahead of the climate. Maiken Jakobsen (26) believes that short-term crises take a lot of energy during the day. Photo: Heather Ørbeck Eliassen / news – People have become more self-absorbed – We have become more concerned with ourselves, and do not think so much about the future. We were a more united people towards a better future before the pandemic, says Maiken Jakobsen (26). She believes people are more focused on the acute crises they face in life right now. – In my circle of friends, there are several people who say they have become afraid of others, or have developed social anxiety after the pandemic. You have gone more into yourself, and you are not as concerned with the big problems, says Jakobsen. – I also think that you have become more self-absorbed, perhaps a little more selfish, because as it is now, everything is expensive. We spend more money on food and electricity. When fewer people point to climate change, it is partly because the population has become more (+14 percentage points) worried about what consequences the international economy will have on our country. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB The 45-59 age group is the group least concerned about climate change, according to the survey. – I have noticed that my parents’ generation is even less concerned about the climate, that it has simply been forgotten. My group of friends is actually more concerned about the climate now, at least when our parents’ generation, which is ruling the world right now, is not on the team, says Jakobsen. – Thinking more short-term Mathias Skjulestad (24) thinks it is sad that there is less focus than before on long-term solutions. Photo: Heather Ørbeck Eliassen / news Mathias Skjulestad (24) does not think it is surprising that fewer people are concerned about the climate now. – It is a little sad that the focus is being shifted from long-term solutions since we only have one planet. Other problems are also important, but we should not forget nature, he says. – We probably think more short-term than we should. It is easy to focus on the internal problems, which are very real, but we must have a place to be for the other problems to be relevant, says Skjulestad. – What will it take for more people to get involved? – Just like volunteering, everyone must participate if it is to have any effect. It is good to spread knowledge about it, and make sure that you actually take those steps yourself, he advises. Viewed in relation to age, young people distinguish themselves by generally taking more climate measures, according to the survey. In the past year, young people have used public transport to a greater extent than the rest of the population, eaten less red meat, bought more second-hand and cycled and walked more. Matilde Angeltveit is a youth delegate during this year’s climate summit. Although climate commitment among younger people is significantly lower than last year, the age group under 30 is still more concerned about climate today than 12 years ago. Photo: Heather Ørbeck Eliassen / news More critical of the government’s climate work More than half of the respondents believe that the politicians are doing far too little to limit emissions of greenhouse gases here in Norway, according to Kantar’s survey. Fewer people see Norway as a pioneering country internationally in climate issues. This makes the UN climate summit, which begins in a few days, extra important, Matilde Angeltveit believes. She is a youth delegate during COP27, the 27th annual member meeting. – The climate crisis only gets worse and worse from year to year, and this year we have seen many major crises in the world with both droughts, floods and all sorts of things, so I think it will be an important year, she says. The State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment (KLD) has had the figures presented. – It’s good that people are impatient. So is the government. We are picking up steam in climate policy now with climate plans to be renewed year by year. This is how we set course towards the climate goals in 2030, says Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad (Ap). – With this survey in mind, what will be important for Norway to achieve at the climate summit? – Norway is working to continue to keep the 1.5 degree target within reach. The decisions at the climate summit must contribute to deep and rapid emission cuts, a transition to renewable energy and the world stopping deforestation, she says. – People we have spoken to say they need to see that climate commitment leads to something. What is the most important thing Norway has achieved in the last year? – It may not be so easy to get involved over budget documents, but it is actually a milestone in climate work to publish a Green Book. We link the emissions budget with the state budget and in that way we tie ourselves to the mast to reach the climate targets, says Syrstad. – When we now have to update the climate plans annually, we are opening the doors to a faster pace in climate policy, says Syrstad, and points out that the government has, among other things, increased the Co2 tax, increased the use of biofuel and given large grants for restructuring in industry. Vinh Nguyen. Photo: Olaug Bjørneset / news – Now there is a little more fuss – Why do you think the population is a little less concerned about climate than before? – Certain people have probably heard the same thing over and over again. But there should be just as much focus on climate change now as before, says Winh Nguyen. – How to engage people again? – I think we should try to brainstorm a bit and find new ways and engage people. Maybe spread the word to other target groups. My generation used to be very engaged, but several of my friends think that now there is a bit more fuss, says Nguyen. – We have to start talking about it again Matilde Angeltveit is traveling to the climate summit in Egypt on behalf of young people in Norway. Angeltveit thinks it’s a shame that the commitment has weakened, and believes that the world needs to bring everyone along. – The climate crisis is after all about our basis for existence in the world. There are many crises in the world now that are overshadowing, she believes. Angeltveit does not feel that people are becoming less engaged, but that there is more frustration. – I think people care, but the climate crisis is a very overwhelming crisis that we have been fighting against for many decades. I think people need to see that the commitment leads to something. – One of the most important things you can do now is to talk about the problem and show the politicians that you care. That people want more climate measures from the politicians, and want arrangements to be made to make climate-friendly choices. Getting involved politically is the most important thing you do, she says. 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 target23.1–25.7 million tonnes annually Go to news’s ​​Climate Status What is Norway’s climate target?By 2030, Norway must cut 50-55 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 emission sources can be divided into two: 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.



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