The Arctic Council’s recommendations and influence on the work of Norwegian authorities
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Wood burning accounts for a signiicant share of Norwegian emissions of soot, almost one quarter. Other major sources are motorised equipment 24 per cent, road trans-
port 15 per cent, shipping 18 per cent and oil industry 12 per cent.
The Norwegian Environment Agency pointed out that the Arctic Council has helped strengthen Norwegian public administration in this ield. The task force for the short-
lived climate forcers has urged member states to put in place an accounting system for emissions of short-lived climate forcers. Norway was put under some pressure as
several of the other Arctic countries Canada, USA, Denmark and Finland already had such accounting systems in place
.
158
The Norwegian Environment Agency referred to the Arctic Council’s report,
159
which shows that Norwegian soot emissions are in line with emissions in the other Nordic
countries. The Agency also emphasised that measured per person, Norwegian emis- sions mirror the global average. However, Norway’s proximity to the High North
makes it especially important to reduce soot emissions afecting the Arctic.
160
The Norwegian Environment Agency has carried out a project on soot and other short-lived climate forcers with a number of collaborating institutions. A proposed
action plan for emissions of short-lived climate forcers was submitted on 6 December 2013. The goal is that the recommended measures and instruments will provide efec-
tive emission reductions of short-lived climate forcers by 2030.
161
Wood burning is a major source of soot emissions in the Arctic, and Norway leads a climate project under the ACAP Working Group relating to reducing emissions of
soot from burning wood. All of the Arctic countries except Iceland and Russia are participating in the project. The project will present recommendations on measures to
reduce emissions of soot from burning wood in the Arctic countries. The project’s irst phase is expected to be completed in 2014.
162
Norwegian emissions of nitrogen oxides NO
x
have fallen since 2000, and if the decline continues at the same pace, Norway will meet its international obligations in
2014.
163
Emissions of sulphur dioxide have declined sharply since 1990, and in 2006 Norway met its commitments in the Gothenburg Protocol. Norwegian emissions of volatile
organic compounds without methane NMVOCs are approaching the Gothenburg Protocol’s 2020 targets. Since 2008, emissions of ammonia have seen a slight down-
ward trend, and in 2012 Norwegian emissions were 17 per cent above obligations.
158 The Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Forslag til handlingsplan for norske utslipp av kortlevde klimadrivere Proposed action plan for Norwegian emissions of shortlived climate forcers preliminary report, M892013, and interview with
the Norwegian Environment Agency on 13 June 2013. 159 AMAP 2011 The Impact of Black Carbon on Arctic Climate. AMAP Technical Report No. 4 2011.
160 Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Første steg mot sottiltak. A irst step towards soot reduction measures Article. Published on 12 April 2013.
161 Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Første steg mot sottiltak. A irst step towards soot reduction measures Article. Published on 12 April 2013.
162 Interview with the Norwegian Environment Agency on 13 June 2013. 163 Statistics Norway 2014 Emissions of acidifying gases and ozone precursors, 1990–2012, final figures. Statistics published on
29 January 2014.
77 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report
Figure 4 Blomstrand Peninsula in Svalbard
Svalbardkommisjonæren 1927, Utmålskart, blad 2
London
The map on the left is from 1927 and shows the whole of the Blomstrand Peninsula covered by a glacier. The map on the right shows the glacier snout as it was in 1998. The Peninsula has now melted
completely out of the glacier and proved to be an island.
Illustration: Norwegian Polar Institute.