Press Release

Nobel Peace Laureates call on Norwegian Leadership Candidates to End Fossil Fuel Exploration and Expansion

August 29, 2017

CONTACT:

Rachel Vincent, Rvincent [at] nobelwomensinitiative.org, +1 613 569-8400 ext. 113

Five Nobel Peace Laureates have written to Norwegian Prime Ministerial candidates, Erna Solberg and Jonas Gahr Støre, calling for Norwegian climate leadership and an end to fossil fuel exploration and expansion. The letter, sent from the Nobel Women’s Initiative in advance of the forthcoming parliamentary election, recognizes Norway’s great potential for leadership and the opportunity for the country to set global precedence by managing the decline of its oil and gas sector towards a clean, safe, and just decarbonized future.

The letter states:

“Equity and justice in the face of the climate crisis requires nations like Norway to prove the possibility of the end of a fossil-fuel based economy. Recent analysis confirms that there is no room in our shared atmosphere for new extraction of oil, coal, and gas. And yet Norway continues to plan for new production, with proposed expansions that contain 150% more greenhouse gas emissions than already committed through existing projects.”

The Laureates acknowledge the important relationship between the Peace Prize and the country of Norway, noting that, “Alfred Nobel felt strongly that Norwegians embodied an understanding of peace, equity, and justice that uniquely qualified them to judge the prize. We appeal to those values now.”

The letter includes four requests:

Lead by issuing no further leases or permits for new oil and gas extraction projects or related transportation infrastructure.

Set a global precedent by becoming the first producer to announce a managed decline of existing production in line with climate safe limits, with a just and equitable transition that protects workers, communities, and economies.

Invest billions of Norway’s trillion dollar sovereign wealth fund into the safe, clean, and renewable energy of the 21st century and move away from fossil fuels.

Permanently protect the fragile arctic oceans in the Barents Sea, as well as areas off of the coast of Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja, from fossil fuel extraction.

“It is easy to seek cover behind countries that are larger emitters, bigger producers, or egregious laggards, but it is not right. Leadership in this century will be characterized by those who redefine themselves in a clean energy economy and who cease to profit from perpetuating the climate crisis. We believe Norway can be this leader,” the letter concludes.

The signatories to the letter include:

Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate (2003) — Iran

Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Laureate (2011) — Yemen

Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate (1976) — Northern Ireland

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Peace Laureate (1992) — Guatemala

Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997) — USA

The full letter can be found here.

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RESOURCES FOR EDITORS:

Oil Change International’s ‘The Sky’s Limit Norway: Why Norway Should Lead the Way in a Managed Decline of Oil and Gas Extraction’.