About
The Climate Change Act codifies Norway's climate ambitions in line with the Paris Agreement. The purpose of the Climate Change Act is to make Norway's climate targets legally binding, as part of its transformation to a low-emission society by 2050. Further, the purpose is to promote transparency and public debate on the status, direction and progress of this work. It explicitly states that the Climate Change Act is not intended to preclude joint fulfilment with the EU of climate targets set out in or adopted under the Climate Change Act.
The Climate Change Act sets out three specific climate targets:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels (Section 3);
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70-75% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels (Section 4); and
- Become a low-emission society by 2050, reducing greenhouse gas emissions with 90-95% compared to 1990 levels (Section 5).
Section 6 of the Act requires the Norwegian government to review its progress and submit updated climate targets to the Norwegian Parliament every five years (following the model of the Paris Agreement).
Section 7 sets out a duty for the Norwegian government to annually report to the Norwegian Parliament on the status of its work on climate change. The Climate Status and Plan (also referred to as "Green Book") serves as the government's reporting under section 7 the Climate Change Act, and is published on the occasion of the presentation of the state budget.
Norway's initial target under the Paris Agreement was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. In 2020, Norway strengthened this target to 50-55%, and the Climate Change Act was amended in 2021 to reflect this. In November 2022, Norway further strengthened its target to a minimum reduction of 55% by 2030. To align the law with this new target, Section 3 of the Climate Change Act was updated 15 December 2023 to set a minimum target of 55% reductions compared to 1990.
Who does it impact?
- The Norwegian government and the Norwegian Parliament.
- Companies and organisations can be indirectly affected by legislation, regulations or requirements set out by the Norwegian government and Norwegian Parliament (directly or through the collaboration with the EU).
Status: In force
The Norwegian Climate Change Act entered into force on 1 January 2018.
Relation to other initiatives and regulations
- The purpose of the Climate Change Act is closely related to Norway's commitments under the Paris Agreement.
- Norway's climate policy is closely linked to the EU, both through the EEA Agreement and by way of a separate climate agreement between Norway and the EU. The Climate Change Act explicitly states that the Climate Change Act is not intended to preclude joint fulfilment with the EU of climate targets set out in or adopted under the Climate Change Act.
- The EU has also adopted its own climate act, the European Climate Law, which codifies the EU's climate targets. While the European Climate Law is not legally binding for Norway, it forms the backdrop for the EU's "Fit for 55" package", which introduces new regulations, measures and stricter requirements that will also apply in Norway when being implemented into Norwegian law or policies.
Thommessen's comments
The Climate Change Act differs from other Norwegian legislation as it mainly enacts political objectives on climate change. It does not impose any rights or obligations on individuals or legal entities, but targets the highest decision-making level, i.e. the government and the Norwegian Parliament. It is for the government in office at any given time to implement measures ensuring that the statutory objectives are achieved.
The Climate Change Act does not provide any guidance on how the targets are to be achieved, nor is there any obligation to adopt measures. This means that the policy instruments to achieve the climate targets are not laid down in the Climate Change Act, but must be introduced through the Norwegian government's work, other legislation, regulations and measures.
In June 2025 Norway's climate target for 2035 was adopted and submitted to the UN under the Paris Agreement. The target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70-75% by 2035. The Minister of Climate and Environment said during the process that they were proposing "an ambitious, but also realistic climate target" for Norway. Norway will use a combination of national emission reductions, cooperation with the EU, and the purchase of emission reductions outside the EU/EEA to set a high level of ambition for the new climate target.
In addition, the Government has also presented a White Paper "Climate Report 2035 – On the Way to a Low-Emission Society" (Nw. Meld. St. 25 (2024-2025)). The climate report outlines the course for Norwegian climate policy up to 2035, but also looks towards 2050.
Recently, the Ministry of Climate and Environment submitted a proposal for amendments to the Climate Change Act for public consultation, as a follow-up to developments in the field of human rights law, as clarified by the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on 9 April 2024 in the complaint case KlimaSeniorinnen and Others v. Switzerland. The proposal entails enshrining in law a requirement to prepare and regularly update a climate plan in order to achieve the climate targets set out in the Climate Change Act. Furthermore, the government proposes to enshrine in law a requirement to establish indicative emission trajectories showing the pathway to 2050. The emission trajectories are to serve as a basis of knowledge for long-term planning, and are not in themselves to be legally binding. The deadline for submitting consultation responses is 5 January 2026.