Environmental organizations and concerned climate activists are appealing to the Norwegian Supreme court after a lower court ruled Thursday that oil production in the Barents Sea does not represent a violation of the Norwegian constitution. “We are happy the Norwegian Court of Appeals acknowledges current and future generations’ right to a healthy environment, and that […]
Equinor, NHO strike back at oil critics
January 8, 2020
NEWS ANALYSIS: It was no coincidence that Norway’s state oil company Equinor launched a new initiative to cut its own carbon emissions earlier this week. The ambitious cuts were announced just before the ceremonial but controversial opening of its huge new oil field Johan Sverdrup, and just before Norwegian business leaders were being told to make […]
Climate offensive turned defensive
January 6, 2020
NEWS ANALYSIS: Prime Minister Erna Solberg headed into the New Year with a new climate offensive, using her annual address to the nation to more specifically address her many climate critics. There wasn’t much new, however, even after one of her own government partners complained during the holidays that their coalition “lacks enthusiasm” and “needs […]
‘Hytte’ dream stirs climate nightmare
December 31, 2019
Hundreds of thousands of Norwegians have celebrated the New Year at the family hytte (holiday cabin) in the mountains. Concerns are rising, however, that ongoing construction to fulfill dreams of hytte ownership is chipping away at Norway’s unspoiled nature, and generating more carbon emissions because of all the driving back and forth. Hytte-skam (cabin shame) is […]
Greens’ politician lands in trouble
December 18, 2019
She’s been one of Oslo’s most high-profile politicians, and scored a major personal victory when her Greens Party more than doubled its election result in September, thus securing its hold on power in the Norwegian capital. Now, however, Lan Marie Nguyen Berg is on long-term sick leave for apparent exhaustion, and stands accused of misleading […]
Listhaug tapped to defend Norway’s oil
December 18, 2019
NEWS ANALYSIS: Sylvi Listhaug, one of Norway’s most controversial and provocative politicians, took over as oil minister on Wednesday. Listhaug, who earlier has questioned whether people are to blame for climate change, was clearly tapped by her Progress Party leader Siv Jensen to fend off “shame” over Norway’s oil industry and push for more Arctic […]
Climate conference disappointed most
December 16, 2019
The Norwegian government announced “agreement after long negotiations at the climate summit in Madrid,” but only over how participating countries must “sharpen their ambitions next year.” Otherwise, the UN-backed summit ended amidst disappointment that there was no agreement regarding more detailed regulations on climate quota trade. The two-week-long summit finally ended in overtime Sunday when […]
Thunberg shames Solberg on climate
December 11, 2019
Prime Minister Erna Solberg was smiling as she posed at the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference. Now, however, she’s accused of ignoring the conference’s “call to action,” with young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg publicly accusing Solberg of violating UN rules against endangering the lives of children around the world. “Your government continues to […]
Mixed reaction after well comes up dry
November 27, 2019
Climate and environmental activists were jubilant and a German oil company disappointed after it abandoned a highly controversial offshore oil drilling project this week. Oil firm Wintershall DEA confirmed that it failed to find enough oil to justify the costs of developing the field near the Træna reef. “We found a little oil, but less […]
Climate change tops all political issues
November 25, 2019
Climate change has, for the first time, topped an annual list that ranks Norway’s most important political issues. It remains unclear, however, whether Norwegians and not least their political leaders will be willing to make the sacrifices needed to reverse it. The annual Klimabarometeret (Climate Barometer) was released just after the Greens Party (MDG), for example, […]
CURRENCY RATES