Norway and the Fossil Blind Spot

This opinion piece was published in Altinget.no in Norwegian: Norge og den fossile blindsonen 22. April 2026

On 28–29 April 2026, states, experts, civil society, and Indigenous representatives will gather in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the first international conference on how the world can actually transition away from fossil energy. The choice of location, one of the world’s major coal ports, is no coincidence. It gives the conference a serious and concrete framing: this is no longer just about ambition, but about the difficult yet necessary transition from fossil dependence to new societal and economic realities.

The initiative, led by Colombia in collaboration with the Netherlands, is rooted in growing frustration over the lack of progress in international climate negotiations. For many countries, patience is running out. They see necessary climate action repeatedly delayed by fossil fuel interests. Geopolitical instability has further reinforced the need for new alliances and more binding cooperation.

The ambition of the Santa Marta meeting is to move beyond general formulations about “transitioning away from fossil fuels” toward more concrete legal and economic frameworks for phasing out coal, oil, and gas. The conference builds, among other things, on the Belém Declaration on a just transition away from fossil energy, supported by 24 countries, including Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Globally, planned fossil fuel production still far exceeds what is compatible with the 1.5°C target. At the same time, the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion of July 2025, underscored that states have legal obligations to protect the climate and prevent serious environmental harm. In this context, one point should attract particular attention in Norway: we have not yet been among the countries taking a clear leadership role in this initiative. Norway has confirmed it will participate in the meeting. That matters, but participation is not the same as leadership.

Should Norway step into a green leadership role?

Norway rightly sees itself as an active and constructive actor in international climate and environmental policy. We provide substantial climate finance, support forest conservation, contribute to ocean governance, and have played a leading role in negotiations on plastic pollution. In many areas, Norway has been a credible and important actor.

But when the discussion turns to the most fundamental issue, the production of fossil energy, we tend to become far more cautious.

Internationally, this tension is becoming increasingly visible. Environmental organizations, researchers, and governments point to the contradiction between Norway’s green profile and its continued expansion of oil and gas production. The criticism is not only about emissions, but about credibility. How can one of the world’s wealthiest countries, with strong institutions, high technological capacity, and significant financial resources, fail to take a more active role in developing frameworks for a managed and just phase-out?

This criticism is evident in international media, in civil society statements, and in discussions around climate summits. In Norway, however, the debate remains far more muted.

Electrification does not solve the core problem

In Norway, electrification of offshore oil and gas operations is often presented as a key climate measure. It is true that replacing gas turbines with electricity reduces emissions from production within Norway’s borders. But it does not change the fundamental fact that the oil and gas extracted are exported, burned, and generate substantial emissions.

Electrification may reduce emissions in the production phase, but it does not affect emissions from combustion. The global climate impact of fossil fuel production remains.

This brings us to the core of the climate challenge. The IPCC has long been clear: a significant share of known fossil reserves must remain in the ground if the world is to have a realistic chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C. Production Gap reports confirm the same: planned global production far exceeds what climate targets allow.

Still, the idea persists that as long as we produce “cleaner than others,” we are part of the solution. But the climate does not respond to how energy-efficient a platform is. It responds to total emissions.

The Norwegian paradox

That this contradiction has gained limited traction in Norwegian public debate is telling in itself. The podcast series The Black Thread describes how oil has become so deeply embedded in Norway’s identity, economy, and self-image that criticism is often perceived as an attack on who we are. Cultural norms, national pride, and the narrative of Norway as a “responsible” producer can dampen the more difficult conversation about production, decline, and phase-out.

Regardless of these dynamics, the political question remains: what role should Norway play as the world seeks to define how a just transition can actually be implemented?

This is not only a climate question. It is also about responsibility, about the alignment between self-image and action, and about whether we are willing to use our privileged position to contribute to the most difficult part of the transition.

Leadership is about more than domestic emission cuts

Norway has an important role to play in Santa Marta. We have experience building a petroleum sector under strong regulation. We have the financial capacity to support a just transition internationally. We have institutions and knowledge environments that can help develop models for managed decline and socially responsible transition.

As a UNEP partner and knowledge organization, GRID-Arendal sees daily how crucial it is that decisions are based on a holistic understanding of environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The transition away from fossil energy is exactly such a systemic challenge. It cannot, and should not, be reduced to technical measures or national accounting exercises.

The transition requires long-term thinking, honesty, and a willingness to engage in the most difficult conversations.

Participation in Santa Marta is therefore not just about presence, it is about contributing to the necessary planning of how phase-out can take place in a fair, financed, and predictable way.

The global conversation on fossil energy is increasingly focused on production. Legal expectations are tightening. The production gap is well documented, and more countries are calling for binding frameworks and greater political courage.

It should concern us if Norway comes to be seen primarily as a country seeking international recognition for climate action, without addressing the most difficult part of the transition: reducing fossil fuel production.

The conversation is already underway. Norway should take its place in Santa Marta, so that we do not remain on the sidelines while others develop the roadmaps for a just transition in practice. We should show a willingness to take on the responsibility that comes with our wealth, our knowledge, and our history.

About GRID-Arendal

GRID-Arendal was established in 1989 by the Norwegian government with a clear mandate to support the United Nations’ environmental work by turning knowledge into action. The organisation operates at the intersection of science, communication, and policy to strengthen environmental management and mobilize decision-makers.

This gives GRID-Arendal a unique position in Norway. We are closely connected to international processes, while also understanding Norway’s self-image as a small but responsible leader in climate and environmental policy.

It is precisely this that makes Norway’s challenge so clear: we seek to be a driving force for global solutions, while continuing oil and gas extraction. We aim to contribute to solving the climate crisis, yet at the same time maintain an economic model that makes the necessary transition more difficult.

The Santa Marta conference
On 28–29 April 2026, Colombia and the Netherlands will host the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, a major coal port in Colombia. The conference will bring together countries and other stakeholders seeking to define how a just and orderly transition away from fossil fuel extraction can be implemented in practice.

The conference also builds on the Belém Declaration on transitioning away from fossil energy, which is supported by 24 countries, including Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain. Norway is not currently listed among the supporting countries as publicly presented in connection with the conference and the declaration.