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WHO: Lars Haltbrekken (49 years old)
What: Storting’s representative for SV, he is on the energy and environment committee. He previously headed the Nature Conservation Association.
Why: Last weekend, the Paris Agreement turned five years old, but the plan to reach the goals is not in place.
Last weekend, the Paris Agreement celebrated its fifth anniversary, the head of the UN, António Guterres, called on the world to declare a climate crisis and Norway dives into the UN list of the best countries in the world because we have such a high climate footprint. What’s going on?
– I myself was in Paris at the time, and I remember how happy and relieved we were that the world finally reached an international climate agreement. Then Ola Elvestuen (V), who would later become Minister of Climate and Environment, said that this would be the end of oil drilling in the Upper North. Since then, the government has distributed more than 300 new licenses to oil companies. Many of them in the northern areas. We have turned our back on the rest of the world through aggressive investment in oil and gas. The government has laid the foundation for large emissions in the future. The head of the UN is absolutely right when he says that we should declare a climate crisis, because it is a crisis.
Also read: UN chief: must declare a climate crisis
There has been good news. Joe Biden has promised to re-sign the United States to the Paris Agreement, and Boris Johnson has proposed climate goals that are actually in line with the Paris Agreement. But the goals of most countries are not ambitious enough, including Norway’s. Do you still have threats?
– I have. I am of the opinion that it is never too late. It is never too late to do something about the problems humans have created. We work for it every day. Norway and other countries must be sucked into climate emissions, and we have a great job ahead of us.
But is it too late to stop some climate change?
– That’s right. If the world had listened to climate scientists when the first report came out in 1990, we would have. Today we have to admit that we are late and we have to live with some of the consequences. There will be more torrential rain and less snow. There is a great risk of crop failure for many years, either due to drought or massive rains. But it is not too late yet to avoid the most catastrophic consequences.
The interview continues below the image.
Around 40,000 children and young people went on strike over climate change in March last year, according to Nature and Youth. Climate strikes took place several times in Norway and around the world. Tom Hansen / NTB
The head of the UN, António Guterres, has specifically criticized the rescue packages for industries that work with the production and consumption of fossil fuels. We are in an economic crisis and we need money to save jobs, how are we going to reduce emissions while conserving jobs?
– We must begin the transition now and not desperately extend the fossil era. We will lose money with that. Many of the oil workers will do the same as today, but they will produce chassis for offshore wind power and ships that run on emission-free diesel.
Are you depressed about the climate crisis?
– No. I get depressed for not skiing, but it’s selfish and has no consequences for anyone else. I am motivated to fight the climate crisis.
Do you think it has something to do with the generation you belong to?
– The generation that has been most responsible for the climate is the generation of youth that hits the climate. I think people of my generation have had a tired habit of holding young people accountable and have set too high expectations for young people. I also heard that I am active on NOW (Nature and youth ed. anm.) in the 1990s we were the ones who came to solve the problem for our generation of parents. Now I have turned 49 myself and I have only one message for those who hope that young people will save the climate: Shut up and start doing the work yourself! We are responsible for our own emissions and we cannot leave that responsibility to young people.
Also read: Liberate climate-free cities
Clear voice. So what climate measures do you mean? should bet
– We must stop issuing new permits for oil and gas extraction. We have to reduce emissions from our oil and gas production. We will have to reduce emissions from road traffic through, among other things, a comprehensive investment in public transport. Otherwise, we will have to vacuum all of Norway for climate emissions.
The interview continues below the video.
Why should one go to the trouble of selecting sources when we are still engaged in oil production?
– Good question. We as politicians must be much tougher to make demands on the oil and gas industry than we do today. The parliamentary majority should have asked and said no to tax relief for the industry. I well understand that people can lose motivation when they see how big evaders are allowed to go free as emission sinners.
Also read: The peak of the MDGs will reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2030
Who has the best SV, MDG and Rødt environmental policy?
– I chose SV because SV combines the fight against the environmental crisis with the inequality crisis. Single parents cannot be told that they have to wait for the help they need until we have solved the climate crisis. If you want to involve people in the fight against the environment, you must at the same time ensure that the differences in society are minor. SV combines the two.
So are the MDGs better for the climate?
– No, we definitely have the best policy to reduce climate emissions, implement them and at the same time fight against social injustice. Otherwise, both SV and MDG have a target of 60 percent by 2030.
Speaking of injustice. Many western countries have made a fortune polluting and exploiting the natural resources of other countries. What do you think is fair weather?
– That the rich countries that have become rich and fat with the climate crisis assume the greater responsibility to reduce emissions and at the same time provide financial assistance so that developing countries can experience a development of well-being.
Now we are done with all sad things. What makes you happy?
– Long ski trip in the countryside or in the mountains.
Have you managed to ski this year?
– Yes, three times, last weekend in Krokskogen. He did well. But now it looks a little bad.
Also read: The Japanese crisis overcame the environmental concerns of Norwegians in the 80s, will the pandemic do it again?
Who was your childhood hero?
– The Beatles. Especially John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I probably dreamed a lot about being one of them.
What are you going to do during the Christmas holidays?
– Feel at home with the family in Oslo. We were supposed to reunite grandparents and siblings, but the limit of ten would have been broken with one person, so it won’t be any of that. It’s sad, but there are worse things.
As a climate crisis?
– Like the climate crisis and not being able to go skiing.
What do you eat at Christmas?
– I’ll eat pork for the first time on Christmas Eve.
What book has meant the most to you in life?
– Beatles by Lars Saabye Christensen. It is a children’s novel that I felt very familiar with, even though the action takes place in the 1960s and early 1970s.
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