Norway Sets 70-75% GHG Emissions Reduction Target for 2035 as New NDC

The Norwegian government has submitted a new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, committing to reduce economy-wide absolute greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% to 75% compared to 2019 levels by 2035. The new target, which can be partially supported by internationally traded carbon credits if necessary, significantly raises ambition from Norway's current 55% reduction goal for 2030.

The new NDC specifies that the 2035 target can be supported by Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which established a framework for country-to-country carbon credit trading at COP29 in November 2024. Norway and Switzerland had previously announced the first international deal conducted under Article 6.2 in June. The government plans to achieve the target through a combination of domestic measures and cooperation with the European Union, with detailed implementation pathways to be provided in future biennial transparency reports.

Key policy instruments cited in Norway's NDC include GHG taxation, regulatory measures including the EU Emissions Trading System, climate requirements in public procurement, support for carbon capture and storage technology, and research and innovation funding. Norway is a significant oil and gas producer, and its stated ambition to cut national emissions by up to 75% by 2035 while the country's major energy companies continue fossil fuel production represents a domestic policy tension that mirrors global debates about the pace of energy transition. Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen noted that strengthened NDCs globally could move the world closer to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.

Norway's NDC submission ahead of COP30 in Belem adds momentum to the cycle of progressive ambition under the Paris Agreement. The explicit inclusion of the possibility of using ITMOs to meet the 2035 target is significant for global carbon market development, potentially creating demand for high-quality carbon credits from developing countries including India. India has significant potential to generate Article 6.2 credits through its renewable energy and forestry sectors, and increased demand from countries like Norway could support the development of India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.

Key figure — 70-75% GHG emissions reduction target by 2035, on a 2019 basis