On 22 June 2001, the Norwegian Government submitted a Report to the Parliament (Storting) on Norwegian climate policy. Agreements with the industry, CO ₂-taxes, development of technology and emissions trading are measures that will ensure that Norway meets its Kyoto commitments. The Government is prepared to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and Norway will co-operate closely with the EU and other countries to make the Protocol enter into force.

• In the Report no. 54 (2000-2001) Norwegian climate policy, the Government presents a plan for fulfilling Norway’s international commitments to limit the emissions of greenhouse gases. Norway will make use of a broad range of policies and measures. The Government will evaluate and if necessary adjust the measures in the following years to ensure that we meet the targets, says the Minister of Environment Siri Bjerke.

The Norwegian commitment under the Kyoto Protocol is to keep the emissions below one per cent increase in the years 2008 to 2012, compared to 1990- levels. According to the Protocol we have committed ourselves to show demonstrable progress in achieving our commitments by 2005. A considerable part of the emissions reductions is to be carried out through domestic measures.

Research and development of technology are important priority areas for the Government. Utilising natural gas and development of new technological solutions are seen as parallel strategies. Economically viable technology that results in the development of CO ₂-free gas-fired power plants will lead to considerable emissions reductions. The Government invites the industry to co-operate in order to push the development on this technology further. The Government will support the establishment of a demonstration project for gas-fired power plants with zero emissions. This project will be in place around 2005.

In the Report the Government draws up a proposal for a broad domestic emissions trading system for greenhouse gases, in order for Norway to meet its commitment for 2008 to 2012 according to the Kyoto Protocol. The Government will be a driving force in the process of establishing an early system for tradable greenhouse gas quotas, and will return to this issue later, in the light of the development in the EU and other country.

In the short term the Government will emphasise a broad set of policies and measures and will:

• continue to impose CO ₂-tax until it is replaced by a quota system
• invite the industry to co-operate on emissions reductions through voluntary agreements
• initiate an agreement on reductions of non-industrial emissions of the potent greenhouse gas SF ₆, and will introduce measures to decrease the emissions of the greenhouse gases HFC and PFC
• make use of natural gas in buses, ferries and in supply ships in the petroleum sector
• support projects to enable electrification of certain parts of the Northern Sea
• support municipal and regional authorities in developing climate change plans

By submitting a national climate change strategy now, the Government signals that Norway is committed to reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases, according to the Kyoto Protocol. The Government sees the necessity of early action, despite the uncertain situation in the international climate change negotiations.