Two weeks ago, Norway voted make itself carbon neutral by 2030, beating the deadline set by the Paris agreement on climate change by twenty years. As a climate neutral country, Norway’s carbon footprint would have a net value of zero (The Guardian). Norway’s average emissions from the past 25 years (1990-2014), are the equivalent of 53 tons of carbon dioxide. Much of this output comes from Norway’s oil and gas industries, and phasing these out in the near future is not part of the plan (Statistics Norway). Therefore, Norway plans to reach this goal through carbon offsetting some of its carbon emissions by lobbying and paying other nations. This plan is not only advantageous for the effects it will have on the climate, but also for the example it sets for other countries. This emissions plan isn’t the only way Norway is setting an example, earlier this year Norway banned public destruction of rainforests, becoming the first country to do so (The Guardian). Way to go Norway!
To read more about this plan to achieve climate neutrality, check out this article from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/15/norway-pledges-to-become-climate-neutral-by-2030 . To learn more about Norway’s emissions break down over the years, visit Statistics Norway: https://www.ssb.no/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/klimagassn/aar-endelige/2015-12-18
