Norway’s emissions targets 30-40 per cent by 2020

Norway puts forward emissions targets of 30-40 per cent by 2020 based on 1990 levels to the Copenhagen Accord, but also signals that Norway will move to 40 per cent as part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012.

The targets are announced in a letter to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as Norway`s submission to the Copenhagen Accord before the set deadline of 31. January.

- Norway is prepared to take its responsibility. I reconfirm my commitment to a negotiating process towards a successful outcome that will limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as recognized by the Copenhagen Accord, says Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim.

The targets are put forward under the understanding that the Copenhagen Accord is not in itself legally binding, but constitutes a political platform giving direction for further negotiations. Norway would be aiming at a legally binding framework for emission reduction commitments beyond 2012 including all major emitters. As part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, Norway will move to a level of 40 per cent reduction by 2020 based on 1990 levels.

Read the letter from Norway to the UN (pdf)