NEW YORK (VG) They were not allowed to speak at the UN climate summit, but Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Climate Minister Espen Barth Eide told VG they still believe the world can save itself.

World leaders gather in New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly. Climate change is higher on the agenda than usual, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a separate climate summit on Wednesday.

More than 100 countries requested speaking time. Until the night before, Norway hoped to be selected. Only those who “have something new to report” should speak, Guterres announced.

34 countries casual, including Denmark and Iceland. Norway never stood a chance.

«I don’t think everyone understands the seriousness of this. The action is very short», said Guterres during his opening speech at the UN.

– We are not the sixth country out of 193 member countries to express an opinion, Climate Change Minister Espen Barth Eide told VG after receiving the message.

There are many things Norway wants to convey to the UN, he said.

Skepticism is increasing

Guterres’ decision not to let Norway speak at the climate summit is in line with increasing international criticism of Norway over the past year.

Norway’s state revenues from oil and gas skyrocketed as a result of the war in Ukraine, when Russian gas supplies to Europe were cut off. At the same time, Norway pledged to halve its greenhouse gas emissions. Norway was called a “hypocrite” and a “war profiteer”.

– Norway is a stable energy supplier, and the fact that we were able to increase some of our gas exports contributed to Europe getting through a winter where everything went wrong, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in an interview with VG during the UN week.

– At the same time, we have come a long way in terms of climate finance and other international arrangements. Norway could stand up well to that, he was sure.

– One of the most important things we can do is become one of the big countries in terms of energy in general, both fossil and renewable, said Støre.

– Should Norway use its oil and gas surplus more widely to help poor countries affected by the climate crisis, and can Norway become a leader in fighting the climate crisis?

– Yes, I think we should do it, and of course it is mandatory.

Extreme summer

Støre and Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide met VG on a bench in the rose garden outside the UN building. The sun shines from the blue sky. But what was said in the hall was serious: War, inequality – and climate.

Summer is extreme. More and more countries are being affected by the climate crisis.

The benches currently occupied by Støre and Eide were also affected. In June, New York was shrouded in smoke from massive forest fires in Canada.

Human-caused climate change is increasing the risk of floods, forest fires and extreme temperatures, according to climate scientists.

– The world is burning, but does the world have the capacity to save itself?

– The answer is clear yes. We have it within our reach; we have the knowledge, resources and solutions that provide jobs for people and solve the climate crisis, answered Støre.

– However, this requires committed cooperation and follow-up to manage it. And that’s where it fails.

That’s why China must join

Støre stressed how important it is that countries that differ on many issues can agree on climate.

Under President Joe Biden’s leadership, the United States has continued climate cooperation with China. China and America are the largest emitters in the world. Without China on the team, it will be nearly impossible to save the world from climate disaster.

– If we want to succeed in the fight against climate change, big countries like the US and China must work together, said Støre.

If Donald Trump becomes the new president of the United States, dialogue with China may fail. And Trump doesn’t believe in human-caused climate change.

– We can only hope that American democracy will see that this is essential to American security. However, the United States is one of the countries now experiencing the greatest impacts of climate change, with wind and rain systems the likes of which they have never seen before, Støre said.

Hurricane Idalia recently hit the west coast of Florida, and hurricane season is becoming more intense and destructive with each passing year.

China and Russia must also recognize their own interests in fighting climate change, according to Støre.

– It is impossible to ignore climate change and say “it doesn’t matter”. We are all affected.

Promise to “stop”

Støre and Eide believe that Norway is taking a big step from being a fossil fuel-producing country to becoming more renewable, and they have conveyed this to UN Secretary General Guterres.

– However, 80 percent of world energy consumption is still fossil-based. If we want to stop it, and we must stop it, at the same time we have to implement other solutions, Climate Change Minister Eide told VG.

He said Norway was “honest and clear” that we as a country support the goal of phasing out fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas – even in cases where carbon capture and storage techniques are not used.

– Something is happening out there, more and more people are daring to talk about this most difficult question, Eide is sure.

PS! In November, a formal climate summit will be held in Dubai. There, Norway, along with Singapore, is tasked with leading decarbonization efforts – that is, methods to make oil, gas and coal less dirty and dangerous.