Continued growth in CO2 emissions

Emissions of CO2 continued to climb in1997, although more slowly than in 1996, preliminary statistics from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority show. Annual growth was barely one per cent, against nearly 8 per cent the year before. Emissions of the greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide have also increased by about one per cent from 1996 to 1997.

Under the Kyoto protocol Norway can increase its combined emissions of greenhouse gases by one per cent compared to the level in 1990. The growth in the combined emissions of greenhouse gases was nearly seven per cent from 1990 to 1996. The 1997 figures for combined greenhouse gas emissions will be ready in May and the Norwegian government has announced that it will issue a report as a follow-up to the Kyoto treaty.

Increased emissions from oil

CO2 emissions in 1996 were particularly high because high electricity prices precipitated a massive switchover from electricity to oil in manufacturing and other industries. The winter was also cold in many places. In 1997, electricity prices were lower and the winter was mild, reducing the consumption of heating oil somewhat. Consumption of heating oil was nevertheless higher than in 1995. This is described in more detail in the article on the energy balance for 1997.

No reduction in NOx emissions

Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) increased by under one per cent from 1996 to 1997. In 1998 Norway signed a declaration with 11 other countries to reduce NOx emissions by 30 per cent of the 1986 level by 1998. The reduction so far has been under one per cent.

Will not meet NMVOC treaty deadline

Emissions of NMVOC (non-methane volatile organic carbon) have declined by four per cent from 1996 to 1997. Norway has pledged to reduce these emissions by 30 per cent from the 1989 level by 1999. They have nevertheless increased by fully 27 per cent since 1989. Most of the growth is due to greater buoy-loading of crude oil at oil production installations and at oil terminals. The decline from 1996 to 1997 is due to a newer national car fleet and recycling plants for oil vapour at one of the terminals. Emission trends indicate that it will be difficult to comply with the goal of a 30 per cent reduction by the deadline.

New Statistics

Emissions to air, 1997.
Statistics are published every year in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics and on the Internet. For more information, contact: Kristin Rypdal, Statistics Norway, tel. +47 21 09 49 49, e-mail: kristin.rypdal@ssb.no.rypdal, or Eilev Gjerald, Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, tel. +47 22 57 34 50, e-mail: eilev.gjerald@sftopost.md.dep.telemax.no.gjerald.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 12, 1998