“DNV’s efforts represent a prerequisite for the success of our climate change policy,” said the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who is aiming to have one of the world’s most ambitious environmental policies. He turned to DNV to discuss international quota trading and CO2 capture and storage.
The Norwegian Government is taking a strong line on green thinking and has issued an white paper calling for significant CO2 emissions reductions. Claiming that the white paper comprises the most ambitious climate goals any government in any country has presented for a parliament to discuss, the government promises that Norway will be carbon neutral by 2050. Norwegian emissions will be reduced by 30% from 1990-2020, and the country will surpass its Kyoto commitments by 10%.
“Norway will be a pioneering country as regards environmental policy. In order for future generations to have access to a good environment and unsullied nature, environmental considerations must be a part of everything we do. We will develop our environmental policy based on the principle of sustainable development, which includes a requirement of solidarity with future generations, both internationally and in Norway,” said the Prime Minister.
The forecasts for Norway’s future CO2 emissions show that they will be approx. 59 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents (ie, all climate gas emissions converted into CO2) in 2020. The government proposes to reduce global emissions by 10-13 million tonnes. In addition, three million tonnes which will be captured in Norwegian forests until 2020 are included. This makes a total of 13-16 million tonnes. To achieve the goal of a 30% CO2 cut by 2020, Norway’s emissions in 2020 must not be more than 35 million tonnes. A cut of 13-16 million tonnes and increase in forests in Norway will mean that between half and two thirds of the emissions reductions will be made within Norway.
The rest of the cuts are to be covered by the so-called flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, which provide for transferable credits from greenhouse gas emission reduction projects. One of these is the Clean Development Mechanism, according to which industrialised countries or companies can receive credits for financing emission-reduction projects in developing countries.
Domestic and international efforts
“To achieve our ambitious goals, we must invest in both domestic and international efforts, such as Clean Development Mechanism projects. We plan to cover some of our reductions through such projects. And for such mechanisms to work as intended, the world needs independent third party verifiers, such as DNV, to ensure trust and confidence. DNV’s contribution is a prerequisite for our climate change politics to succeed,” said Mr Stoltenberg.
“An important aspect of the Clean Development Mechanism – in addition to the emissions reductions – is that, through this system, developing countries gain a new source of financing and state-of-the-art technology for their sustainable development, whereas we can supplement our commitments to reducing our emissions at home,” he continued.
Discussions with DNV experts
Aiming to bring his country to the absolute forefront of climate friendly regimes, the Prime Minister spends much time studying all facets of the CO2 emissions issue. He arrived at DNV’s headquarters in June accompanied by four key advisors to discuss international quota trading and CO2 capture and storage technology with DNV’s experts. Mr Stoltenberg had expressed an interest in paying DNV a visit to discuss details and learn more about technological challenges and the quota trading mechanisms.
DNV’s CEO Henrik O. Madsen presented DNV’s global position and role, concluding with the challenges he can see at this stage and what is expected from the political establishment, before the discussions started.
