Norway to offset emissions with forest and technology spending
Norway is to offset its emissions by buying emission credits for investment in technologies that reduce the output of greenhouse gases, and in forestry. The move was announced by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in his New Year address. It will see the purchase of credits to offset the greenhouse gases emitted by public employees when they fly abroad. 'The emissions of greenhouse gases must be curbed. We shall both reduce our own and contribute towards a reduction of emissions abroad. The release of greenhouse gases knows no boundaries,' said Mr Stoltenberg. 'The government has decided that when public servants travel abroad by air, we shall buy climate (or emission) quotas which will cover the emissions caused by our travels. If only a few do this, the effect is small. If many join in, it means a lot. We hope that companies, organisations and other countries will follow,' he continued. The Prime Minister quoted Norway's King Olav V, who once said: 'Incredible things may happen if enthusiasm is used as the driving force'. 'And he was absolutely right,' said Mr Stoltenberg, 'Enthusiasm, a will and the spirit of go-ahead are strong motivating forces.' According to Statistics Norway, the country's emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) fell to 54 million tonnes in 2005 from 55 million in 2004. The drop was attributed to a reduction in the volume of oil used for heating due to high oil prices, and was not therefore considered to be the start of a long-term decline. Emissions of greenhouse gases by Norway, which is outside the European Union and not part of the EU carbon trading scheme, were 9% above 1990 levels in 2005. Under the UN's Kyoto Protocol on reining in emissions, Norway has to limit emissions to 1% above 1990 levels by 2008-12. Norway is the world's third largest exporter of oil, and a major exporter of natural gas.
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