A new climate report from the international energy agency IEA says that it is still possible to reach the 1.5 degree target. In the political quarter, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) says that this is completely in line with Norwegian oil policy. – We now see that we are rolling out renewable energy faster than we had thought, and that the demand for fossil energy is falling. That transformation is underway. – We wish to develop Norwegian oil and gas activity in such a way that we manage to maintain the obligations we have in the Paris Agreement. If we are to manage the major energy transition, we need energy security at the bottom. They will continue to produce oil and gas? – We must ensure that there is energy security in Europe, but at the same time not lose focus. We will develop new technology, says Aasland. Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) during a press conference on offshore wind in 2022. Photo: NTB Une Bastholm, former head of MDG, sits on the climate and energy committee at the Storting. She does not share the same optimism. – The IEA, which was created to ensure that there is energy supply in the world, says that there is no room or point in continuing to search for oil and gas from today: – It shows that all the arguments that the government uses is now tensely underfoot, regardless of whether it is about the economy, jobs, demand or the climate. The report from the IEA report is not categorical that all oil and gas projects must be terminated. – The IEA says that there may be use for investments for a few years, four or five years, but the big picture is that we have to move investments, says Bastholm. Une Bastholm (MDG) says Norway has a responsibility as a rich energy nation to supply renewable energy to a Europe that wants to change. Photo: William Jobling / news Several new licenses for oil exploration This year, the government is awarding 47 new exploration licenses to oil companies, two of them in the Barents Sea. – Demand will decrease during this decade. In the IEA’s report, it is stated that by 2030 demand will fall by 25 percent and up to 80 percent by 2050. It is not the case that all proven findings will be extracted, says Aasland. The drilling rig Transocean Enabler in the Barents Sea. Photo: Jan Arne Wold/Woldcam / Equinor ASA Why do they drive as before when demand drops? – I disagree that we continue as before, when we simultaneously put new technology on the table. Bastholm says that this is what the IEA disagrees with. – They say there is no need for more oil and gas. We have a responsibility as a rich energy nation to supply renewable energy to a Europe that wants to change. At the UN’s climate summit, Norway was not allowed to speak. – I think Norway has a very clear plan for restructuring the entire energy system. What is the difference if there is 1.5 or 2 degrees of global warming? – There are a number of ecosystems that will collapse, many more millions of people will have to flee and much more extreme weather. The threshold is worse than we think, says Bastholm. The Minister of Oil and Energy adds: – I am united in that, so we must reach the 1.5 degree target. 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 quotas will force emissions cuts where it is easiest to implement. Non-quota-obligatory 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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– The transition is underway – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
