Norway goes carbon-lean

An unprecedented national program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Norway has become a trailblazer in CO2 reduction. On 11 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 4 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.