By tradition, Bellona is present at the giant conference and exhibition Offhore Northern Seas  in Stavanger. Yesterday, on Monday, Bellona organized a seminar called “Petroholic Rehab,” and today, Bellona opened its stand in the exhibition hall by the same name.

“For more than 40 years Norway has chosen to make itself dependent on oil. Now we need to rehab, “said Bellona Vice-President Marius Holm.

Stop subsidies

Norway, as small a country as it is, accounts for nearly three percent of global CO₂ emission, through its export of oil and gas.

Norway’s dependence on oil money not only ensures huge CO₂ emissions, but also makes it harder to  make a significant shift to more renewable energy and energy efficiency.

“Norwegian politicians must realize that we need to scale down the oil industry, and it must be done through, among other things, protecting vulnerable areas along the coast from oil operations, and cutting subsidies to the oil industry, “says Holm, adding, “There is less and less oil and gas, and if we do not prepare for the transition to the renewable community, the harder it will be for Norway when it runs empty on oil and gas.

Download the 12 steps to Petraholic Recovery to the right.