Norway’s climate proposal is hypocrisy dressed up as climate leadership

 10 April 2025 – Today, Norway published its white paper on climate, which includes the government’s proposal for its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). 

The proposal for Norway’s national climate plan, which will be subject for review and negotiations in Parliament to be decided in June, outlines a headline emissions reduction target of 70-75% by 2035. However, experts at Oil Change International say the proposed target is not in line with the country’s fair share of emissions reductions, which should be at least 80%. 

In addition, the Government will not take any measures to plan for a decline in the country’s oil and gas production. In the white paper they write: “(…) the government will not develop a strategy for the end phase of Norwegian oil and gas, but wants Norway to remain a stable and predictable supplier of oil and gas (…)” and “The government will further develop the petroleum industry and facilitate that fields on the continental shelf will continue to be a stable and long-term source of oil and gas for Europe and the world” [translated by OCI]. 

It’s also worth noting that so far, Norway is failing to reduce their domestic emissions sufficiently, having reduced emissions by only 9 % since 1990. This white paper offers little hope of changing those statistics, since it offers no goal for the reduction of domestic emissions in Norway. In comparison, Scandinavian neighbours like Sweden and Denmark have reduced their emissions by 38 % and 46 % since 1990.

Norway has approved the most oil and gas projects in the North Sea since signing the Paris agreement, and the country’s planned expansion to 2050 is equal to the lifetime emissions of 19 coal-fired power plants or 60 years of domestic emissions. 

Silje Ask Lundberg, North Sea lead at Oil Change International, said: 

“This is hypocrisy dressed up as climate leadership. While the world races to phase out fossil fuels, Norway clings to oil and gas like it’s part of the climate solution — not the root of the crisis. In the climate proposal presented today, the government refuses to even plan for an end to oil and gas production, doubling down on prolonging the oil and gas industry as if emissions can be wished away.”

“Norway is the black sheep of the North Sea when it comes to aligning oil and gas policies with the Paris Agreement. With its blatant disregard of the COP28 Dubai agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels, Norway is not only making a mockery of the Paris Agreement, they are actively sabotaging it. There is staggering dishonesty in calling for a phase out of fossil fuels at climate conferences and continuously propping up fossil fuel production at home.” 

“As today’s proposal is negotiated in Parliament in the coming months, policy makers must push for ambition that meets Norway’s responsibility, both for fossil fuel dependent communities abroad and our communities and workers at home. There is no just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels if wealthy countries like Norway do not move first and use their financial might to support Global South producing countries on fair terms in moving away from fossil fuel dependency.”

Karoline Andaur, CEO of WWF-Norway, said:

“The Norwegian government has hit the snooze button once again on the climate crisis. It’s unbelievable that no binding target has been set for reducing emissions in Norway. The government is postponing policies and measures for the necessary energy transition. As our government now abdicates responsibility, it is up to the Parliament to do the job of ensuring a strong NDC.”

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