From the Barents Observer, January 11:
The white paper presented last Friday by Prime Minister Erna Solberg and her center-right government outlines a way towards a low-carbon economy. It will help us reach our climate target for 2030, the Premier highlighted as she presented the plan.
“We will cut emissions and enhance removals of CO2 in a way that transforms Norway and promotes green growth,” Solberg said. She calls for an industrial sector that is “greener, smarter and more innovative.”
Among the outlined measures is a hike in taxation of greenhouse gas emissions, various regulatory measures, as well as financial support for the development of new technology. The government will also take use of climate-related requirements in public procurement processes.
Carbon tax rates will gradually be increased from its current level of about NOK 590 to NOK 2000 per tonne CO2 equivalents, and government authorities on all levels will be obliged to acquire only zero-emission vehicles from 2022. The same applies for local buses from 2025, and ferry services and high-speed passenger vessels will have to apply low- or zero-emission solutions.
The climate action plan is to lead to a 40 percent cut in non-ETS emissions by 2030. Those cuts will be made domestically, Minister of Minister of Climate- and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn underlines.
The emissions that are not included in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) include the transport sector, waste handling, agriculture and buildings. They account for about half of Norway’s total emissions.
Behind EUThe emission cuts are significant, but still lower than in several other countries, including the European Union as such, where 55 percent cuts will be made in the same period....
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