Norway is in the process of reviewing its nationally determined contribution (NDC) — emissions reduction pledge — to the Paris climate agreement and annual climate plan, including elements relating to the transition away from fossil fuels, Norway's climate minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said at the opening of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial today.
"Our work on our NDC is well under way, and in parallel we are also updating our annual climate status and plan, and strengthening the implementation to follow up collective agreements from Dubai, including policies to transition away from fossil fuels," he said, referring to the commitments agreed at the UN Cop 28 climate conference in Dubai in December.
The final agreement between parties at Cop 28 included a decision to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
The ministerial, taking place today and tomorrow between ministers and climate negotiators from a range of countries, aims to set the agenda for discussions in the run-up to the Cop 29 conference, scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November.
Today's comments contrast with those made by Norwegian energy minister Terje Aasland in November last year, before the Cop 28 agreement, which reiterated Norway's commitment to oil and gas production to contribute to global energy security and reduce the risk of high and volatile energy prices.
A report from civil society organisation Oil Change International published last week ranked Norway poorly on the alignment of its energy policy with the Paris deal, pointing out that it has no framework in place setting a limit on the country's oil and gas production.
