Are we moving in the right direction?
Norway’s greenhouse gas emissions have risen from about 50 million tonnes CO2 equivalents in 1990 to almost 54 million tonnes in 2008. The rise is mainly explained by the growth in oil and gas activity and in the volume of transport. In 2008 and 2009, emissions fell considerably and are now around 2 per cent above 1990 levels. We do however expect a long-term trend of a substantial rise in total emissions unless much more substantial measures are taken.
Projections of Norway’s emissions in 2020
Projections of Norway’s greenhouse gas emissions drawn up for the Government indicate that emissions may to rise to about 59 million tonnes CO2 equivalents in 2020 unless further action is taken. Emissions from the transport sector, which is the most important source, are expected to increase throughout the whole period.
Norway’s emission target for 2008–2012
Norway’s commitment under the Kyoto Protocol is to ensure that its greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008–2012 are no more than one per cent higher than they were in 1990.
The Government has since set a more ambitious target: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 9 per cent below the 1990 level in the period 2008–2012. To do this, average annual emissions in 2008–2012 must be reduced to 45.2 million tonnes, as compared with 49.7 million tonnes in 1990. The plan is to achieve this through a combination of measures in Norway, cooperation projects with other countries and purchases of emission allowances abroad.
Norway’s emission targets for 2020 and 2030
For 2020, Norway’s target is to cut emissions by 30 per cent. The plan is for about two-thirds of the cuts, or 15–17 million tonnes CO2 equivalents, to be made in Norway.
If an ambitious global climate agreement is achieved in which other developed countries also take on extensive obligations, Norway will undertake to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 at the latest. This means that Norway would have to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 100 per cent of its own emissions by 2030.
Published by the Climate and Pollution Agency, 27.06.2010, 23:52.