Oil and gas plans dangerously out of line with Paris climate pathways

CONTACT:
Greg Muttitt, Greg [at] priceofoil.org, +44 7508 421527
Hannah McKinnon, Hannah [at] priceofoil.org

August 9, 2017

(Oslo) – Norway’s plans for fossil fuel development are at odds with its commitments to the Paris climate goals according to a new report. In addition to being the world’s seventh largest emissions exporter, projected oil and gas development in the country are incompatible with global carbon budgets aligned with limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius or 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“The global climate crisis requires leadership that we believe Norway can deliver,” says Greg Muttitt of Oil Change International. “But first, the country must take a hard look at its plans to continue to explore for and expand new oil and gas – development that we find is incompatible with the Paris climate goals.”

The report uses Rystad Energy data for its analysis. The report includes the following key findings:  

  • Through its oil and gas exports, Norway is exporting 10 times more emissions than the
    country produces at home.
  • Norway is the world’s seventh largest exporter of emissions.
  • Norway’s proposed and prospective new oil and gas fields would lead to 150% more
    emissions than what is in currently operating fields.
    Norway’s emissions trajectory with proposed and prospective new oil and gas fields is
    not in line with the rate of global emissions reduction needed to achieve the Paris goals.

“Norway wants to be a climate leader, but every lease sale, every piece of new fossil fuel infrastructure, and every expansion into new carbon to be burned elsewhere says otherwise,” says Silje Ask Lundberg of Friends of the Earth Norway. “Real climate leaders need to be planning for a post carbon future – and that means managing the decline of fossil fuel production.”

“Norway has been the exemplar in managing its natural resources and fossil fuel wealth, now is the time to use that same foresight and intention to transition to an economy that isn’t dependant on profiting from climate change,” says Hannah McKinnon of Oil Change International.

“For the first time, it is clear how Norwegian plans for fossil fuel expansion are at odds with its climate promises,” says Truls Gulowsen at Greenpeace Norway. “The incoming government has an opportunity to set a new path for Norway, a path that leads to a safe climate future and ensures a just transition for workers, communities and our economy as we move to a safe, clean, and renewable energy future.”

The report is published by Washington D.C. based Oil Change International in collaboration with Naturvernforbundet, Greenpeace Norway, Kirkens Nødhjelp, Natur og Ungdom, and WWF Norway

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The report can be found online here.