Related goal
Annual emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will not exceed 195 000 tonnes from 2010 onwards. In the period up to 2010, annual emissions will not exceed the 1988 level (252 000 tonnes), and annual emissions from the entire mainland and the Economic Zone of Norway south of 62˚ N will not exceed 70% of the 1989 level (191 000 tonnes).
Norway’s NMVOC emissions rose by about 32 per cent from 1990 to 2001 as a result of the expansion of the oil and gas industry. In 2001, emissions totalled 397 000 tonnes. Since then, they have been cut sharply. In 2009 emissions totalled 161 000 tonnes, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Norway. This improvement is mainly due to the operation of VOC recovery equipment during loading of crude oil. There has also been a reduction in emissions from road traffic.
Emissions are expected to drop further in the years to come, mainly as a result of lower production of crude oil, the recovery of more oil vapour during loading and storage of crude oil, and the effect of the new exhaust standards for road vehicles.