Norway, a country known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and very high standard of living, stands out with its high level of education, strong commitment to environmental protection, and stable economy. Interestingly, despite its relatively small population, Norway is one of the wealthiest societies in the world, thanks to its vast natural resource reserves, such as oil, gas, and forests. The country is a leader in clean energy production as well as in the implementation of renewable sources. However, Norway is not without its challenges in certain sectors. We discussed these topics with Kristin Melsom, the Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia.
Q: Norway ranks high on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). What strategies contribute to this success, and what are your plans for the upcoming period?
A: Norway ranks 7th among 180 countries in EPI, and we are very proud of this result. Still, we are not equally successful in all sectors. For example, we score high in managing acid rain, air quality, sanitation, and drinking water. Norway also significantly increased the percentage of protected areas, preventing wetland loss and ocean plastic pollution. However, it is fair to say we need to catch up in some areas, such as sustainable pesticide use and a circular economy.
Various factors contribute to these results. Norway has robust environmental policies that adhere to EU legislation as we are part of the same economic area. Nature has been generous to Norway as we generate most of our electricity from hydropower, making us one of Europe’s largest renewable energy producers. Norway is also expanding investment in wind and solar energy to reduce its carbon footprint further. Sustainable transportation is also one of the factors, and we are the leaders in using electric vehicles. We invest in environmental education and public campaigns to raise awareness among our citizens about sustainability, foster a culture of environmental responsibility, and actively participate in international environmental agreements.
Norway will focus on several essential goals in the upcoming period. The plan is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Norway also aims to diversify its renewable energy portfolio by developing large-scale offshore wind farms. We are committed to increasing the protected land area from 17 percent to 30 percent by 2030 and improving the sustainable use of materials and recycling.
Regarding our international work and commitments, the most important goals are to limit the global increase in temperature, enable vulnerable countries to adapt, reduce the consequences of natural disasters, prevent deforestation, and promote economic development and food security.
IN FOCUS:
- Larvae as a Solution for Pollution and Sustainable Agriculture
- Drive Electric
- One Man – Many Recycled Bottles
Q: What percentage of Norway’s energy consumption currently comes from renewable sources, and what are the plans for further growth in this sector?
A: When it comes to energy consumption, electricity makes up almost half (47 percent) of energy consumption, and in Norway, electricity is almost solely produced by hydro energy (90 percent) and wind energy (9 percent). Another 7 percent of consumption is biofuels and waste fuels. Therefore, we can say that more than half of consumption is entirely green (54 percent). The other 46 percent of consumption is oil products (37 percent), and natural gas and coal at around 3-4 percent each. They fall under so-called hard-to-abate sectors such as industry and transport, which require energy to run factories, fuel automobiles, and heat or cool homes. While we can be satisfied with what we have achieved in producing electricity, there is still work ahead in transforming industry and transport. Oil is primarily used in transport where, despite recent exponential growth in EV sales, most cars, trucks, ships, and aircraft are still powered by oil-based fuels burned in internal combustion engines. Other major sources of CO2 emissions from oil include heating homes and businesses and making plastics and chemicals. When it comes to energy used for industry today in Norway, I can say that oil is not used that much (only 10 percent), but we do use it for industrial non-energy uses, notably for the production of asphalt, engine lubricants, and raw materials for making plastics.
There are many plans for the future. There is continuous effort in developing both offshore and land-based wind power capacities. Additionally, an increasing number of companies are entering the hydrogen sector. The government has singled out hydrogen as a key strategy in the green shift, making available funding for research & development. Ammonia may become the clean fuel of choice by ship owners for deep-sea shipping. We are actively developing energy storage solutions. A few gigawatt battery factories are in the pipeline; one actually opened this August in Arendal, with goals of sourcing cobalt, nickel, and other minerals from the region or changing the composition of batteries to reduce the need to import rare earth minerals.
Q: How does Norway address the challenges of the energy transition, particularly in balancing energy security with sustainability goals?
A: We are “navigating” between the two multifaceted approaches. Our hydropower dominance provides a stable source of clean energy. We are investing a lot in developing new energy sources such as offshore wind, hydrogen production, and battery technologies. In parallel, digitalization is essential for energy transition because it enables business models that improve energy efficiency. Lastly, we are implementing carbon capture and storage systems to decarbonize our economy further. All this said we should not try to “greenwash” the reality. It is a fact that despite our commitment to sustainability, we remain a major producer and exporter of oil and gas. This sector is crucial for energy security in Norway and European markets. It is also one of the largest employment sectors in Norway, with 200,000 people working there. So, we can say that Norway aims to maintain stable production while gradually transitioning to greener alternatives.
Interview by Milica Radičević
