Norway on Sustainable Development
Norway pledged to be completely carbon neutral by 2050, alongside many other countries. They seem to forward towards the goal, how do they make this possible, what is their strategy, and why is it working?
Norway runs mostly on hydropower energy. Favorable climate and resource location aids Norway in being able to generate and rely heavily on hydroelectricity. That said, Norway plans to continue its oil and gas production and while forwarding policies that produce profitable oil within the country’s climate goals. The recycling system in Norway is said to be one the most efficient of its kinds across the world. In an effective collaboration between the citizens, the country can maintain a healthy effort toward reducing plastic and sorted waste.
Efforts made by Norwegians themselves move the goal closer to reality, actions like returning bottles and cans through the pant system, reusing all sorts of items and goods, even plogging, or picking up litter in areas where waste collection might be hard to keep up.
The latest act to carry on with sustainable development: advertising electric cars. Out of all new cars sold this year in Norway, less than 5% were gas-powered. Set on the reduction of fossil-fuel-powered cars, the goal now is to have all new vehicles run on green energy by 2025. Norway encourages people to opt for electric cars by providing incentives like exemptions from certain taxes, and reduced auto-related fees. By creating tax exemptions from value-added tax, environmental tax, and similar auto fees, Norway has successfully gotten people to switch over to more environmentally friendly vehicles, mostly electric or hybrid.
Change starts small, here is what you can do to start living more sustainably:
- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
- Lessen the consumption of energy, wherever possible, and choose energy-efficient items
- Try to eliminate the usage of plastic
- Change up commute options, so that you drive less, and drive consciously
- Choose eco-friendly items and products
