Summary
Norway's industries and oil and gas production has made the easy steps to reduce emissions at home as have many developed countries industries because primarily they were energy efficiencies and they make economic sense. Now the questions is how to reduce emissions further for the future without killing the economy now. Norway has chosen a method for the time being of reducing GHG's in developing countries through the UNFCCC mechanism called CDM. Obviously Norway sees this as the next step along the path to carbon neutral status that makes economic sense. The question is does this count towards making the country carbon neutral?
Analysis
Frankly the answer is Yes, Norway is a Leader! Yes Norway's reductions in developing countries do count! But here comes my own caveat, there must be verifiable emissions reductions whether they occur in Norway or in a developing country half a world away. As well those reductions must be new and the direct result of Norway's participation.
As I see it we all live on this planet called earth and therefore we all must recognize that territorial divides must be set aside for this problem. The world needs to act to reduce GHG's not talk and criticize. Criticizing one country from another country is just unacceptable. This is a global problem not a territorial problem. I say that because all nations have a problem with emissions and all nations can do something about it. As well because this earth has a complex balance of weather patterns that span the entire planet emissions reductions done anywhere will help.
I despise the criticisms levelled at one country to the next country. We have all in our own little ways created the problem, from continent to country to region to neighbourhood to each and every individual. We have done this over many generations so stop focusing on the other guy and start focusing on the problem. The blame game does not absolve countries, governments, industries, regions or even individuals of doing something right now.
I also despise the groups who would have us all shut down the factories, the oil and gas production and what have you to save the planet. What they are essentially saying is kill this and the next two generations now in order to save the planet. That simply doesn't work for several reasons. Firstly, those who hold the power to shut down industry have a fiduciary duty to those who make their living from those industries to provide the ability to buy groceries and stay warm. Secondly for those who need to think through this a little more is that the entire population of the world can not live in the area of land mass just off the equator where they can be warm year round. The fact remains we have not learned throughout history how to live a peace with neighbouring nations how are we all going to live on the small masses of land bordering the equator.
Now that I have that out of my system I want to focus on the problem, reducing GHG's significantly while not killing this generation and yet allowing for future generations to thrive on a sustainable planet. Let me tell you there is no easy silver bullet answer. There are many answers that attack the problem and in many cases reduce GHG's economically and even increase the GDP of a country. We need only look a little outside the box. We need only reduce the problem we face with our particular industry to what the real issues are. For example the oil sands in Canada produce the highest amount of GHG's per barrel of oil. The reason is because it requires more energy to produce the oil. Therefore the solution may-be found in producing that energy through renewable means. There are ways, I know because I consult on them. There are also ways to have cities reduce their GHG's, they may be small, but they are economic and will allow for either reduced taxes or more services, take your pick. All nations must look at the ways to reduce GHG's economically first and then move on to less economic ways in order to have research and development prove out new ways for further economic reductions.
Norway appears to be doing just that. Norway appears to be leading the way having begun with the easiest methods at home and then now funding the easiest methods around the world. I also can tell you they are in the R&D phase to again develop ways to reduce GHG's both at home and abroad.
