High electricity prices yield record-high CO2 emissions in 1996

Emissions of CO2 in Norway increased by 7.5 per cent from 1995 to 1996. This is the biggest jump from one year to the next in the last 20 years, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority. The reason is the high consumption of oil by manufacturing and other industries which transpired after electricity rates went up last year. An increase in the percentage of cars equipped with three-way catalytic converters and measures to curb spillage during oil loading operations have led to stable emissions of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compunds (NMVOC). Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) increased by 3.5 per cent.

Emissions of CO2 in Norway increased by 15 per cent from 1989 to 1996. The national goal has been to stabilize these emissions at the 1989 level. The growth in emissions since 1989 has occurred in basically all areas. The increase in emissions from 1995 to 1996 is due in particular to higher consumption of oil in manufacturing and other industries.

New Statistics

Emissions to air from Norway, 1996.
Statistics are published every year in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics. More information: Kristin Rypdal, tel. +47 21 09 49 49, e-mail: krr@ssb.no or Audun Rasland, Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, tel. +47 22 57 35 47, e-mail: audun.rasland@sftospost.md.dep.telemax.no.rasland.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 12, 1997