EU, Norway sign ‘Green Alliance’ to take on climate change

In a “Green Alliance” agreement, the European Union and Norway agreed to collaborate on addressing climate change, preserving the environment, and creating the technology required to move away from fossil fuels.

The Green Alliance, which has been in development since February 2022, will focus on various topics, including environment protection, stopping the decline in biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and technologies that eliminate, gather and keep CO2.

The shift away from fossil fuels, including clean mobility, renewable energy, hydrogen production, and procuring the essential raw materials required for these technologies, is another area of emphasis for the alliance.

The Green Alliance covers a broad range of issues. The agreement will enable us to progress toward climate neutrality together and in concert, said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, as she signed it in Brussels.

The alliance follows a similar pact reached between the EU and Japan in 2021, making it the second of its type.

Ahead of signing the agreement, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre highlighted the need for a shift away from fossil fuels, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Before the North Sea Summit, which will be held on Monday in Belgium and feature delegates from nine nations and the European Commission, the Green Alliance was signed. At the summit, the topic of accelerating the deployment of offshore wind projects will be discussed.

“The wind harnessed by the turbines in the North Sea will help power Europe’s clean tech industry. It will provide secure and affordable energy to Europeans,” stated von der Leyen.

The Green Alliance will also cover essential raw materials as part of ongoing efforts to create a strategic alliance between Norway and the EU. Von der Leyen claims that this began last year and will shortly be completed.

The deal also includes measures to combat climate change on a global scale, with both parties pledging to support increased public and private investment in projects that support the Paris Deal and the switch to renewable energy.

Norway is a key energy provider to the EU and has substantial oil and gas resources. After Russia invaded Ukraine and cut off its gas supply to Europe, Norway overtook Russia as Europe’s primary source of natural gas, a fossil fuel.

Although the goal of the alliance is to “join forces to achieve a decarbonised European energy system of the future,” it is acknowledged that Norway will continue to play a crucial role in supplying Europe with fossil fuels in the near future.