Norway aims for zero-carbon status with all emissions offset by 2050 - Guardian

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Norway aims for zero-carbon status with all emissions offset by 2050

· PM's plan relies heavily on buying greenhouse credits
· Oil exports undermine plan, says Greenpeace

John Vidal, environment editor
Saturday April 21, 2007
The Guardian

Norway plans to be the first country in the world to become
"carbon neutral" and cut its net greenhouse gas emissions
to zero by 2050. The prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, has
proposed the move, expected to encourage other rich
countries to act further and faster on climate change.

-snip-

"By 2050 greenhouse gas emissions will have to be reduced
drastically. Rich countries should become carbon neutral.
This does not mean no emissions from the countries in
question. But it does mean that each tonne of greenhouse
gases emitted is to be offset by an equivalent reduction
elsewhere. This adds up to zero emissions," he said.

-snip-

Like other wealthy countries, Norway intends to reach its
target mainly by offsetting its 54m tonnes of carbon
emissions a year using quotas bought on international
markets. The country, which is the world's fifth largest
oil exporter, has built up savings from oil and gas exports
of nearly $300bn. Norwegian emissions per capita are
about 11 tonnes, almost three times the world average.

Although the proposals were widely welcomed in Norway,
critics argued that the country would be doing much more
to fight climate change if it stopped producing oil and gas
that other countries burn. "It should do more at home rather
than use its vast oil wealth to buy its way out of the
problem," said a spokesman for environmental group
Greenpeace. "Norway should take responsibility for the 500m
tonnes of emissions that it causes by its exports of oil and
gas."

-snip-

Read more: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2062357,00.html

[MADem]

1. They're gonna buy credits to get there? That's "GOP carbon neutral"

not REAL carbon neutral. It's "trading" carbon neutral.

Nice try. I'm not buying it. And no one else should either. It doesn't solve the problem--it just shifts it around a bit.

It's heartening that they are showing concern, though. Concern is a start.

[Quetzalro]

2. kick

kick kick

[razzleberry]

3. this is very sad

giving away CFLs,
and building hydro-electric dams,
in another country,

does not make Norway carbon neutral.

[NNadir]

4. Why are they building new natural gas power plants then?

They're full of shit. Their whole economy is based on fossil fuels.

Norway is the 4th largest exporter of oil in the world.

2050, by the way is too fucking late. It's another scheme of denial to dump their own irresponsibility on future generations.

The future generations are already screwed by the current generation.