Norway goes carbon-lean

An unprecedented national program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Norway has become a trailblazer in CO₂ reduction. On 11th March 2005, the Norwegian government appointed a Commission on Low Emissions, whose task was to draw scenarios for reducing Norway’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50-80% by 2050. The Commission presented its final report to the Norwegian Minister of Environment, Helen Bjørnøy, on 4th October.

The program proposed in the report includes an awareness campaign and also attaches great importance to education and R&D. The panel argues that strengthening Norway’s expertise in climate-friendly technology will become a competitive advantage in the future industrial market.

Concerning techniques and technologies, the program proposes, among many other things: low-carbon, zero-carbon or carbon-neutral vehicles, emission-free natural gas fired power stations (by Carbon Capture and Storage), power stations on renewable energy sources, and severe energy efficiency measures.