Minister of Climate and the Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Labour Party) has announced that all sectors must adapt in order to achieve the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The oil and gas industry will receive no exemption.

This emerges from an interview he gave to Magasinet for fagorganiserte during the Nature Conference at Sofienberg Church in Oslo on 10 June.

– All sectors must adapt. No one gets off the hook, Bjelland Eriksen tells FriFagbevegelse.

He believes that Norway has for too long developed nature at the expense of special interests, and that the community has lost both natural environments and clean water.

– Now it is time for us to develop nature, not dismantle it, says the minister.

Bjelland Eriksen rejects the notion that a stricter nature and climate policy will hinder economic growth, but acknowledges that there is an urgent need to increase power generation. The shortage is particularly noticeable in parts of Northern Norway. The electrification of the gas facility at Melkøya outside Hammerfest will nevertheless proceed, which according to the minister is both a major and profitable climate measure.

Nor is the minister particularly concerned about the mood on social media, where sceptics of what they regard as climate hysteria are reaching ever larger audiences.

– I think it is dangerous to assess sentiment for or against climate policy on the basis of comments sections on social media, he says.

Deputy leader Stian Sagvold of the United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet) supports the climate minister’s line and believes that the labour movement is ready for the transition.

– In the labour movement, we have never been afraid of change. Fellesforbundet’s members across the country stand ready to cut emissions, says Sagvold, who concludes by saying that he is also critical of the Storting’s decision to put the offshore wind initiative on hold.