ABSTRACT
The tension between Norway’s leadership ambitions in international climate politics on the one hand and its role as petroleum exporter on the other forms the political framework. Norway has become internationally known as a high profile environmental negotiator, with a self-declared goal to act as a driving force in international climate policy making. The main elements of Norwegian climate policy and the Norwegian negotiation position within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee were in place by September 1991. While the relative attention paid to the various issues has changed somewhat over time, the major components have remained unchanged. The most significant negative impacts on the Norwegian economy of an efficient climate regime are expected to be indirect effects of changes in the petroleum markets. So far, however, the major climate–political controversy in Norway has been linked to the national target of stabilizing CO2 emissions.
