Norway’s Renewable Energy Success and Its Fossil Fuel Export

Norway is a shining example of climate change leadership. Its electric system is nearly zero-emissions, and 98% of its energy comes from renewable sources, mainly hydropower.

The country is also investing in floating solar farms and continuously improving solar panels that can withstand the ocean’s strong swells and surges. Many of its households collect, store, and even sell solar power to energy companies.

The country also donates billions of dollars to the Green Climate Fund, which supports developing countries affected by climate change in their efforts to adapt to it.

When it comes to electric vehicles, as early as the late 1990s, the government planned to put 50 thousand electric cars on the road by 2017, and not only has it reached the target, but it was able to do so two years earlier than planned. Today, they have 200 thousand of pure electric vehicles; all charged up using an extremely low-emissions electric grid and plan to have all newly registered cars zero-emission in six years. Their government tax breaks allowed them to achieve this car electrification success quickly.   

Despite Norway’s success in renewable energy and electrification, it remains one of the largest oil and gas exporters. Critics call it a Norwegian paradox and a notable contradiction to its climate policy.

This Norwegian paradox is examined in a climate court case between the people of Norway and the government. According to the Guardian article:

“In a high-profile lawsuit filed in 2016, Greenpeace Nordic and Norway’s Nature and Youth organisation argued that the government is violating the rights of present and future generations to a safe and healthy environment by continuing to issue licences to petroleum companies, enabling them to explore for new oil reserves.

In the first week of the appeal hearing, we heard that the Norwegian government challenges elements of established climate science and maintains its argument that Norway is justified in continuing to search for new oil in the vulnerable Arctic region.

In 2018, the district court confirmed that the right to a healthy environment is an enforceable human right protected by Article 112 of Norway’s constitution. The government is legally obligated to respect, protect and fulfil this fundamental human right.

However, the judge accepted the government’s claim that Norway has no responsibility for carbon emissions from burning Norwegian oil and gas outside of Norway. Hence the appeal by the environmental organisations.”

The article says that from a climate change perspective, where on Earth fossil fuels are burned is irrelevant, as emissions exacerbate climate emergencies. 

As a wealthy nation, Norway has a high adaptive capacity and sufficient resources to protect its citizens from climate change effects.

But developing countries like Fiji, Dominica, and many others are struggling to adapt or are slow to get back to their feet when disasters hit.

To read more, click the links in the “Source” section below.