Latest news with #AndreasBjellandEriksen
The Star
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Norway to implement EU rules aimed at reducing deforestation
OSLO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Norway will adopt key elements of the European Union's (EU) Deforestation Regulation as part of its efforts to combat climate change and prevent biodiversity loss, the Norwegian government said on Monday. Under the new policy, Norway will introduce stricter requirements for high-risk products commonly linked to deforestation, including wood, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and palm oil, the government said in a press release. "The conversion of forests into agricultural land accounts for nearly 90 percent of global deforestation," said Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen. "Consumers should be confident that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of critical natural areas." The Norwegian government has decided to incorporate the EU Deforestation Regulation into the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. This step ensures that the regulation's EEA-relevant parts will apply in Norway, aligning the country's environmental standards with those of the EU. Norway will not apply the regulation to agricultural products such as beef and soy, nor to exports to countries outside the EEA, as these fall outside the scope of the EEA Agreement. However, national regulations for these products will be considered. The EU Deforestation Regulation was adopted in 2023 and will take effect on Dec. 30, 2025.
The Star
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Norway tackles deforestation by implementing EU rules
OSLO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian government announced on Monday that it is set to adopt key elements of the European Union's (EU's) Deforestation Regulation as part of its efforts to combat climate change and prevent biodiversity loss. Preserving rainforests and other tropical forests is essential for addressing global climate challenges, the government emphasized. Under the new policy, Norway will introduce stricter requirements for products with a high risk of contributing to deforestation, including wood, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and palm oil. "Deforestation is a major global issue. The conversion of forests into agricultural land accounts for nearly 90 percent of global deforestation," said Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen. "Consumers should be confident that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of critical natural areas. This is why we are imposing clear requirements on products such as wood, coffee, and cocoa." The Norwegian government has decided to incorporate the EU Deforestation Regulation into the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. This step will ensure that the regulation's EEA-relevant parts will apply in Norway, aligning the country's environmental standards with those of the EU. "Incorporating the EEA relevant parts of the regulation will provide predictability and is beneficial for the private sector," said Minister of Agriculture and Food Nils Kristen Sandtroen. "The government places a strong emphasis on long-term security and cohesive solutions, which are reflected in this initiative." Norway will not apply the regulation to agricultural products such as beef and soy, nor to exports to countries outside the EEA, as these fall outside the scope of the EEA Agreement. However, national regulations for these products will be considered. The government plans to submit a proposal on the national implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation for public consultation. At the same time, it will explore ways to achieve the regulation's environmental objectives through domestic measures covering areas not regulated by the EEA Agreement. The EU Deforestation Regulation was adopted in 2023 and will take effect on Dec. 30, 2025.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- The Independent
Norway's new rules to protect polar bears from tourists slammed as ‘conservation fascism'
As peak season for expedition voyages in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard gets under way, tourist ships are staying hundreds of metres away from polar bears under new rules intended to protect the carnivores. Svalbard, whose largest island is Spitzbergen, is a remarkably accessible wilderness. Its capital, Longyearbyen, is barely 800 miles from the North Pole yet has daily flights from Oslo. The archipelago attracts travellers keen to experience Arctic nature and see wildlife – notably polar bears. At the start of 2025 the Norwegian government placed strict limits on how close expedition ships could approach polar bears – initially set at 500 metres (1,640 feet). The minister of climate and environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, said: ' Climate change is leading to more difficult conditions for polar bears on Svalbard. 'It is important for them to be able to search for food, hunt, rest, and take care of their cubs without interference from humans. 'Keeping a good distance will also ensure that dangerous situations do not arise and that polar bears do not get used to humans over time.' The new law says: 'Any person who observes a polar bear closer than the distance requirement shall retreat, so as to maintain a lawful distance.' Offenders face up to five years in prison if "substantial environmental damage or a risk thereof has been caused'. Up to 30 June, ships must stay at least 500m away; from 1 July onwards the minimum distance reduces to 300m. But even with the lower limit, expedition leader and photographer Paul Goldstein says the rules are too draconian. He told The Independent 's daily travel podcast: 'This is a classic example of what I term 'conservation fascism'. 'I have led small ship charters in the region since 2004. Never once have I seen a single incident where tourists intimidate or affect the behaviour of polar bears. 'It's not exclusive to Spitzbergen. If you remember those researchers and scientists – we had to listen to their drivel during Covid as they shut down the world, drunk on the oxygen of publicity. 'These clowns are exactly the same. Their motto's very simple: 'We're not happy till you're not happy'.' Mr Goldstein said 'thousands of cabins' are sailing empty as a result of the distance rule, adding: 'The dream is to see Ursus Maritimus padding over some sea ice. But if your precision optics demand a lens the size of a Stinger missile, the pleasure and thrill is being denied to almost all the gallery.' The Norwegian government says the number of people travelling to Svalbard is rising, while simultaneously the archipelago is undergoing the fastest climate change on the planet.
Local Norway
27-05-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Why Temu orders to Norway look set to become more expensive
Mounting pressure from Norwegian authorities, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and potential new duties on parcel distributors could soon make ordering from Temu more expensive for Norwegian consumers. The shopping platform's appeal lies in its low prices and vast selection, but recent investigations have cast a shadow over its operations. A joint Nordic inspection of products ordered from Temu and similar platforms revealed that 7 out of 10 items contained hazardous substances , including materials banned under Norwegian and EU law. This discovery prompted Norwegian Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen to summon parcel distributors for a high-level meeting on Monday. Their (declared) task? To determine how Norway can better regulate the flow of online imports from platforms like Temu and protect consumers from unsafe goods. READ MORE: Why Norway will hit you with a customs fee for small online purchases from abroad Stricter controls Following the meeting, Minister Eriksen emphasised a collective recognition that "more control is needed," the business newspaper e24 reported. In the short term, the government wants to ramp up customs checks on incoming packages to detect violations of environmental and safety regulations. While this won't cover all 31,000 Temu packages entering Norway daily, the goal is to create a credible threat of enforcement – building the case for distributors to cut ties with non-compliant sellers. Eriksen clarified that the government is prepared to act unilaterally if distributors fail to take responsibility. This could include assigning new legal duties to distributors , such as requiring them to conduct due diligence on platform partners or reject deliveries that don't meet Norwegian standards. Advertisement Why consumers might pay more While consumer protection is the focus of the government's efforts, these additional controls are unlikely to come free – and the cost could land on Norwegian consumers. Distributors such as Posten and Bring are generally not permitted to open individual packages. However, if they're mandated to support customs with expanded control zones, staff training, and technological upgrades to track regulatory compliance, these changes will require significant investment. Similarly, if new legislation places liability or enforcement obligations on these companies, they'll need to develop internal compliance systems – costs that might, at least in part, be passed on through increased service fees or higher delivery charges. For platforms like Temu, additional pressure from Norwegian or European regulations may compel them to alter sourcing practices, submit to external audits, or cut off certain suppliers altogether. That may reduce the availability of ultra-cheap goods, especially those that violate safety standards. And in logistics, time is money - additional inspections and customs holds could delay delivery times, leading distributors to raise prices or prioritise more expensive service tiers. READ ALSO: What are the rules for posting and receiving items in Norway Advertisement A long-term shift on the horizon Another potential source of price inflation is Norway's push for more substantial alignment with EU regulatory frameworks on e-commerce and consumer protection. Both Climate Minister Eriksen and Children and Family Minister Lene Vågslid have voiced support for more integrated European systems that ensure consistent safety data across borders. If they materialise, such systems could lead to the adoption of stricter EU and EEA-wide compliance requirements for non-EEA platforms like Temu. While this would potentially standardise enforcement, it could also increase the regulatory burden on foreign sellers and their logistics partners – raising the costs of doing business in Norway. A price worth paying? This rising tide of accountability may soon make Temu's orders to Norway cost more. And as distributors and platforms absorb these new responsibilities, the end customer will likely see the difference in their final bill. Yet, don't expect consumers to take to the streets - numerous Norwegians might consider it a price worth paying in the broader context of consumer safety.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Invite-Only Meeting Revives Hope For a Global Plastic Treaty
(Bloomberg) -- More than a dozen countries took part in informal talks aimed at unblocking negotiations to stem a global wave of plastic pollution, which scientists warn could have major public health consequences if left unchecked. Despite Cost-Cutting Moves, Trump Plans to Remake DC in His Style Amtrak CEO Departs Amid Threats of a Transit Funding Pullback New York Subway Ditches MetroCard After 32 Years for Tap-And-Go NYC Plans for Flood Protection Without Federal Funds The Scary Thing About the Wildfire That Was Stopped Nations and blocs that joined the meeting convened by Norway in Oslo on Monday and Tuesday included China, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Japan and the European Union. India, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were invited but did not attend. A new round of formal United Nations-backed negotiations for a global plastic treaty will be held in Geneva in August. Previous attempts in South Korea last year were obstructed by a small group of oil producers, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, who objected to limits on production and consumption. Success in delivering a pact may hinge on a small group of countries — including India, South Africa, Brazil and particularly China, which has a large petrochemical sector but is increasingly concerned about plastic's health impacts. 'What we are working now is to find that landing zone and the compromise that can bring an agreement' at the Geneva talks, Norwegian Climate Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said in an interview. 'A lot of countries now really want to step up and demonstrate that the multilateral system is actually working.' The process of finding global consensus on solutions to climate and environmental challenges has faced scrutiny after a series of disappointing outcomes at UN-brokered summits, and failures last year to strike agreements to halt plastic pollution, protect biodiversity and end desertification. Yet a deal reached at the UN Biodiversity Conference last month in Rome, where more than 140 countries agreed to raise hundreds of billions of dollars a year to halt nature loss, is injecting new hope for a plastics pact. Norway was following some of the same strategies diplomats used to seal the Rome agreement by initiating informal talks ahead of scheduled negotiations, Eriksen said. A global plastic treaty would seek to curb how much of the material contaminates the world's soil and waterways. Plastic waste is not biodegradable, breaking down instead into microplastics which can then enter the food stream. Recent research has shown the material is toxic as it accumulates in human bodies. Plastic production is forecast to jump about 60% to 736 million tons a year by 2040, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (Updates with new comment from fourth paragraph) Tesla's Gamble on MAGA Customers Won't Work How TD Became America's Most Convenient Bank for Money Launderers The Real Reason Trump Is Pushing 'Buy American' A New 'China Shock' Is Destroying Jobs Around the World The Future of Higher Ed Is in Austin ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
