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Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre discusses green energy at World Leaders Forum
The Norwegian prime minister addressed plans and practices to develop renewable energy in Norway and across the globe.
By Iman Taha / Senior Staff PhotographerStøre opened the hour-long event with a presentation outlining Norway’s energy profile and its clean energy outlook.By Colette Holcomb and Cameron Spurr • September 25, 2024 at 5:34 AM
By Colette Holcomb and Cameron Spurr • September 25, 2024 at 5:34 AM
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre joined the World Leaders Forum on Tuesday in a conversation with Founding Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy Jason Bordoff titled, “Norway and the Age of Energy.”
Held in the Low Library Rotunda and co-sponsored by the Institute of Global Politics and the Center on Global Energy Policy at the School of International and Public Affairs, the event opened with a 16-minute presentation from Støre on Norway’s approach to energy security, clean energy, and international cooperation.
Bordoff asked Støre about Europe’s energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the role of government regulation, global energy equity, and more. Subsequently, the audience posed questions about nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and how to assist developing nations with energy needs in the broader energy transition.
Støre’s insights revolved around innovation in green energy technology and capitalizing on the promise of such advancements. He said that much of this innovation comes as a process of digitalization, which often comes with risks.
“The degree of digitalization in modern energy systems. The way grids are operated, the way you optimize transport of an energy source is highly digitalized,” Støre said. “Of course, now with artificial intelligence, it can be further optimized. So the vulnerability from hacking and from these kind of attacks is there.”
Bordoff pressed Støre on the apparently contradictory reality that Norway is both an oil and gas producer while simultaneously a leader in the development of green energy. Støre noted that Norway intends to move away from oil and gas, but that it remains part of the nation’s balance of energy sources in the interim.
“My answer is yes, it is a paradox,” he said. “It is the whole world’s paradox. Because as you say, professor, we are transitioning out of this, so the question is, ‘how do we do that best?’”
Throughout the event, the topic returned to energy growth in developing countries and the role that Norway can play in ensuring a just, equitable energy transition.
“There are 700 million people, friends, in the world without electricity. Don’t ask them to make an effort for climate change,” Støre said.
Instead, Støre stressed that collaboration will be at the forefront of an equitable energy transition as a supporter of Mission 300, an effort launched by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to connect at least 300 million people across the African continent to electricity by 2030.
“[Mission 300] is absolutely feasible,” Støre said. “It is possible to do it. Is it costly? Not very costly but it needs organization, it needs cooperation, it needs partnership.”
Støre acknowledged that Norway’s emissions only make up a small fraction of global emissions, but stressed that the country can still be a leader in strategy when it comes to green energy.
“If we reach our climate targets—which is to cut by 55 percent in 2030—it will not make a difference in the world,” he said. “But what I’m telling my friends in Norway is that the way we cut our emissions may matter.”
The World Leaders Forum began Monday with talks by the General Secretary, President Tô Lâm of Vietnam, and Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of Nepal. The Forum continues this week with President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile speaking on Wednesday and Secretary-General Wamkele Mene of the African Continental Free Trade Area speaking on Thursday, both in the Low Library Rotunda.
University News Staff Writer Colette Holcomb can be contacted at colette.holcomb@columbiaspectator.com. Follow her on X @coletteyama.
University News Senior Staff Writer Cameron Spurr can be contacted at cameron.spurr@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec.
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