The Norwegian government released a new climate plan today. Here a few highlights.

Norway's CO₂ price, originally introduced in 1991, will be gradually increased from today's 590 kr/tonne (USD70) to 2000 kr/tonne (USD240) in 2030.

The 2025 goal that all new cars will be zero-emissions is maintained. This means the amount of fuel sold will decline, and today's requirements are that a certain share of that is biofuel. The new plan will increase that share so today's volume of biofuel is maintained over time.

It is the share of 'sustainable' biofuels (which excludes palm oil) that will be increased over time.

From 2022, all new cars purchased by government at all levels will have to be zero-emissions vehicles; all buses from 2025. From 2023 all ferries must be low or zero emissions.

Because fewer and fewer will be buying fossil transport fuels, the higher CO₂ prices will have little effect on individuals' travel costs.

Those are some of the most concrete new measures. In addition come various other measures in different sectors.

The goal is to cut Norway's emissions in 2030 by 50%-55% compared with 1990 levels.

The climate plan is a suggestion from the government, and must be passed by parliament. The next climate plan will be released in 2024.

Perhaps important to note for those not familiar with Norway: this plan is being presented by a right-of-centre, business-friendly government. The starting point is that Norway has already agreed to reduce emissions substantially, all that remains to discuss is how to do it.

The Environment Agency will also look more closely at parallel reporting of consumption-based emissions (including emissions embodied in imports), with reference to the fact that the Swedes already do this.

While emissions from the production of oil and gas in Norway will be reduced, the government maintains its position that emissions from the combustion of these fuels in other countries are the responsibility of those other countries (as is internationally agreed).

There will be an annual emissions budget over the next ten years, not just a goal for 2030.

During the press conference, MP Guri Melby stated that climate change is here, now. Oslo's ski season is already almost 40 days shorter than it was in the 1990s, she said.

Some had expected/hoped/feared that the plan would include measures directed towards consumption of red meat, but the plan doesn't mention the word meat, and measures in agriculture are quite limited, incl. reducing fossil fuel use and encouraging sustainable food choices.

Correction: the report *does* mention meat, but the government doesn't want to tell people what to eat, so policy for dietary change is limited to providing information on sustainable food choices.