In order to reach Norway’s climate target under the Paris Agreement of a 55 per cent emission cut by 2030, non-quota emissions must be reduced by 50 per cent. – For the first time, Norway has a climate plan for a 50 per cent emission cut in the non-quota sector. That was what a proud climate and environment minister Espen Barth Eide could say after the presentation of the state budget for 2024. Already during the party leader debate in Arendal, Jonas Gahr Støre was the only one who raised his hand in the belief that Norway will reach the climate targets for 2030. On Friday, according to the government, one could understand why Støre raised his hand. During the party leader’s debate in Arendal, Jonas Gahr Støre was the only one who raised his hand in the belief that Norway will achieve the climate goals for 2030 Green Book In connection with the state budget, the government also presented the Climate Status and Plan – known as the “Green Book”. It is a kind of accounting that shows how Norway is prepared to reach the climate targets. In order to achieve climate cooperation with the EU, Norway must cut greenhouse gases by 16.5 million tonnes in the so-called non-quota sector by 2030, according to the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. The new climate measures in this year’s national budget promise to cut emissions by 6.4 million tonnes until 2030. The new climate cuts come as a result of: Basic expansions in the CO₂ tax (new 1.4 million tonnes) Increased use of biofuel (new 2, 7 million tonnes) Targeted investments in road transport, industry, shipping and construction sites (new 0.5 million tonnes) Emission reductions in agriculture (1.8 million tonnes) Together with already adopted policies, the government believes that Norway will then over-fulfill obligations towards the EU and cut a total of 17.3 million tonnes by 2030. – We will not be on track in 2024, but we will be on track in 2026, says Barth Eide. The graphs show that the government believes that Norway is on track to reach the climate targets in 2030. The annual targets are shown by the black bars. The colored fields represent the measures that the government believes will achieve the target. Photo: Ministry of Climate Change Billions for carbon capture In addition to the cuts in the non-taxable sector, several other climate measures were put forward. Among other things, the government proposes to allocate around NOK 200 million for work on offshore wind. The grant will enable faster development of renewable energy production at sea. They will also provide 2.6 billion for carbon capture. In the venture called Langskip, the government expects that in 2025 both the CO₂ storage at the cement factory in Brevik and the storage in the North Sea will be in operation. Strong criticism of the government Both the opposition parties and environmental organizations are strongly critical of the government’s proposals. One of the areas where they face criticism is that the government will increase the use of biofuel. This should lead to a cut of 2.7 million tonnes of CO₂. As Norway’s total emissions in 2022 were 48.9 million tonnes of CO₂. this amounts to 5.5 per cent of the total emissions. In other words, it is a large part, but the use of biofuel is highly controversial. Although there is sustainable, advanced biofuel, this is in short supply. Tørris Jæger, secretary general of the Rainforest Fund, says that the climate plan increases the burden on rainforest land. – The government relies to a large extent on increased use of biofuel to reach the climate targets in 2030. But it is not a real climate measure to move the emissions from Norway to other countries in order to embellish Norway’s climate statistics, says Jæger. Jæger also says that it is striking that this measure is not among the 85 measures put forward by the Norwegian Environment Agency to achieve Norway’s climate goals in 2030. The government’s climate status and plan – known as the “Green Book” – stands out with some color among the other ministries’ budget proposal. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / news Not impressed Nor is the Liberal Party’s former climate minister Sveinung Rotevatn impressed by the Climate Plan. – The greenest thing about the green book is the cover, the content is worse. And when the government now says they have a plan to achieve their climate goals, it is wrong, they themselves write that they are keeping the cut in the road use tax which counteracts the cut in the C02 tax. That is the problem here, he says. Deputy leader of the Liberal Party, Sveinung Rotevatn, believes the new state budget is devoid of new climate measures. Rotevatn is also critical of the increase in the use of biofuel. – Basically, it should be used where there is no alternative, what the government is doing is increasing it in all sectors, including for passenger cars, he says. – It does not lead to conversion, it is just a matter of using the same old internal combustion engines. The problem is that it can have unfortunate global effects, and it does not lead to changes such as new engines, he adds.
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The government says it will achieve its goals with this year’s climate measures – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
