Norway's red-green government and three opposition parties Thursday agreed on a long-term climate strategy aimed at slashing greenhouse gas emissions, according to dpa. The deal gives Norway a "long-term climate policy that can last regardless of government," Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of the Labour Party said. Stoltenberg and Environment Minister Erik Solheim gave credit to the opposition Conservative Party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals for supporting the compromise. Norway would under the deal reduce its CO2 emissions by 15 to 17 million tons, meaning two thirds of the emission cuts would be reduced domestically, the government said. According to the plan, Norway would be "carbon neutral" by 2030 instead of the previous target of 2050. The plan included investing more on renewable energy sources, public transport and hiking the tax on petrol and diesel. The populist Progress Party has not been part of the talks. Norwegian environmental group Bellona Foundation said the deal was a welcome "first step" while Lars Haltbrekken, leader of the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature said he hoped the deal would signal a "more offensive climate policy." Petroleum and Energy Minister Aslaug Haga said this year an extra 70 million kroner (13 million dollars) would be paid for research on renewable energy and capturing carbon dioxide, increasing to 300 million kroner next year.
