Scorecard summary:
Fulfillment of Rio Conference Commitment- Red
Current Government Position on Climate Change- Red
Per Capita Emissions - Red (14.03 metric tons per person in 1992)
National CO2 Emissions - Green (60 million metric tons in 1992)

OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
Small but active player, early international leader, has one of the toughest domestic carbon taxes, but constrained by being oil exporter, and wants differentiated commitments.

NATIONAL CLIMATE PROTECTION GOAL:
The target is to not exceed 1989 levels of CO2 in 2000. This target was set in 1988: Norway was one of the first countries to set a national target. This was cast as a preliminary target to be considered in the light of further technological advances, international energy market development and international agreements.

SPECIFIC FEATURES:
Norway is the second largest oil exporter in the world and it has become an increasingly large exporter of natural gas to other countries in Europe. For this reason, per capita CO2 emissions are high in the petroleum sector alone and accounted for 22 percent of Norway's CO2 emissions in 1990. Virtually all of its electricity demand is met from domestic hydropower. These two facts mean that Norway considers that it could be adversely affected by international agreements on emission reductions as there is a lack of cost-effective options to reduce emissions from power stations and in view of the rapid growth of the oil and gas industry.

NEGATIVE FEATURES:
An increase of 16 percent in CO2 emissions by 2000 is now expected (rather than stabilisation). Norway forms part of a small group of countries which is advocating a differentiated approach to commitments which could take account of national differences. Transport remains the largest single source of CO2 emissions in Norway (40 percent) and more than half these emissions come from road traffic. The Government is unwilling to carry a heavier burden than other OECD countries. There are thus CO2 tax exemptions for air transport, shipping, the fishing fleet, and reduced rates for some industries such as pulp and paper production. Overall the transport sector has scope for the introduction of cost-effective actions.

POSITIVE FEATURES:
Norway was one of the first countries to introduce a CO2 tax, in 1991, and this is at present applied to 60 percent of all emissions in the country. The tax is levied on fuels at levels which are considerably higher than in other countries. There are indications that in some key sectors such as oil and gas production and transportation, the tax has reduced emissions. Norway recognizes that there are difficulties in accurately estimating the substantial enhancement in its sink capacity and so has decided not to adopt a 'net' approach at present.

Sources: Report on the in depth review of the national communication of Norway, July 1996 (FCCC/IDR.1/NOR)Energy Policies of IEA Countries 1996 Review. Independent NGO Evaluations of National Plans for Climate Change Mitigation s -Europe second review, Climate Action Network, Brussels, August 1994.