The Bumbling Leader
No, not president Bush this time.
Back in the early 80's, former premier minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, led the UN's World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). Normally referred to as the Brundtland commission, its 1987 report "Our Common Future" was the first to put emphasis on the term "sustainable development", defined as:
"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
The choice of Ms Brundtland as leader mirrored the general perception of Norway as a leader in environmental issues (to the degree that the world has a view on this tiny but wealthy country on the fringe of Europe), a role that the country also took great pride in.
While there might have been a grain of truth in this some 20 years ago, sadly this is no longer the case. Norway is one of the world's largest oil and gas producers, thus contributing heavily to the emission of greenhouse gases. Energy consumption is high both in the general population and in subsidised industries such as aluminium production. Yet the emphasis is not on energy saving, but on development of new energy sources.
Having already exhausted most of the potential for clean hydro energy, Norwegian leaders are now opting for natural gas steam plants. Sadly, this will be developed without the technology of CO2 capturing (at least up until 2014), vastly increasing the country's climate gas pollution during a time where the emphasis should of course be on sharp reduction and research into clean energy sources. For one, Norway with its long, wild and rugged coastline is perfectly suited to benefit from wind power.
Despite this, Norway's weak and inexperienced minister of the environment had the audacity during the current UN meeting to call for a 20-30% decrease in climate gas pollution from other countries before the year 2020 - knowing full well that Norway is on the opposite track and with CO2 reduction seemingly very low on the national agenda.
It is a sad, sad development in the country of Ms Brundtland. A country once set to lead the way that chose not to.
Back in the early 80's, former premier minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, led the UN's World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). Normally referred to as the Brundtland commission, its 1987 report "Our Common Future" was the first to put emphasis on the term "sustainable development", defined as:
"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
The choice of Ms Brundtland as leader mirrored the general perception of Norway as a leader in environmental issues (to the degree that the world has a view on this tiny but wealthy country on the fringe of Europe), a role that the country also took great pride in.
While there might have been a grain of truth in this some 20 years ago, sadly this is no longer the case. Norway is one of the world's largest oil and gas producers, thus contributing heavily to the emission of greenhouse gases. Energy consumption is high both in the general population and in subsidised industries such as aluminium production. Yet the emphasis is not on energy saving, but on development of new energy sources.
Having already exhausted most of the potential for clean hydro energy, Norwegian leaders are now opting for natural gas steam plants. Sadly, this will be developed without the technology of CO2 capturing (at least up until 2014), vastly increasing the country's climate gas pollution during a time where the emphasis should of course be on sharp reduction and research into clean energy sources. For one, Norway with its long, wild and rugged coastline is perfectly suited to benefit from wind power.
Despite this, Norway's weak and inexperienced minister of the environment had the audacity during the current UN meeting to call for a 20-30% decrease in climate gas pollution from other countries before the year 2020 - knowing full well that Norway is on the opposite track and with CO2 reduction seemingly very low on the national agenda.
It is a sad, sad development in the country of Ms Brundtland. A country once set to lead the way that chose not to.
posted by Frode Fanebust at 11:11 PM
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