– Do something now, not in ten years – V.G

BJØLSEN (VG) By the time Alma Mellblom Theissen (11) gets the right to vote, Norway should have halved its greenhouse gas emissions. On Thursday came the answer to whether we are on track.

Alma Mellblom Theissen (11) likes to climb trees, has performed in a musical and recently joined a Hermes hoard in a children’s room in Bjølsen, Oslo.

The 11-year-old is now part of the rising generation Consequences of the climate crisis As part of everyday life.

– It’s scary to see places like this where climate change is really hitting, when there are only puddles where there used to be big lakes. Or like the poles are melting too fast. Alma explains what is happening now to Viji.

– Is there anything that makes you feel happy that it’s going in the right direction?

– For example, they help animals in forest fires. That there are many people who do something. It is very good.

From Alma’s birth until she comes of age, the world must halve its greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming.

Climate Budget –
baby

Every year for 20 years, Viji followed the national budget and the oil fund through “Budget Boy”. Since he was born in 2000 Until he grows up and Thank you for your support in 2020.

Prime Minister Jonas Gerstor (AP) said he would lead the climate fight on behalf of young people. Now the government presents Its first climate budgetand “Climate Budget Baby” by Alma Viji.

He has no right to vote unless climate mitigation measures are taken to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

– An 11-year-old boy says politicians should come forward and listen to us.

Specifically, he believes the government will now focus less on oil and more on renewable energy.

– Because in a few years, we, the youth left with this world without adults, will rule it. So we still have a world to live in.

In a climate budget, emissions of greenhouse gases should be measured in tonnes, just as the government calculates money.

Did politicians listen?

2011 – Alma was born

Alma was born on 27 April 2011 in Oslo.

There were around 4,000 electric cars on Norwegian roads this year, compared to 4,61,000 last year. Petrol cars have decreased and diesel cars have increased.

Emissions from oil and gas production have fallen by ten percent since Alma was born. The biggest cuts remain.

At the same time, Norwegians’ spending on clothes and shoes has doubled over the same period. We buy more furniture, food and other consumer goods.

2015 – Fourth Anniversary

Alma turned four in 2015. Her older sister Isa came home from primary school and signed up with Miljøagentene, an environmental protection organization for children. That was the beginning of the two sisters’ commitment to the environment and climate.

It is also the year The Paris Agreement was concluded, and countries all over the world have committed to climate cuts to combat global warming. A shortcut to climate. Nevertheless, Norwegian emissions increased in the years since the treaty was signed, and global emissions have continued to rise.

Norway has now committed to reducing Norway’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030, while the target is 55 percent.

Over Alma’s lifetime, emissions have begun to decline, but slowly. If the goal of halving emissions is to be met, the forward curve is steep.

2019 – Alma on school strike

At the age of eight, Alma was one of many school children who demonstrated in the 2019 school strike for climate.

«Almost all the time we have to listen to you, and now it’s your turn to listen to us. Do something now instead of ten years from now» reads the back of the poster with a sad globe.

VG meets Greta Thunberg: – Being different is a gift

Alma took the poster with her Lined up outside the Storting, With many students from schools in and around Oslo. He says he hopes politicians will see his poster and many other school strikers and listen to them.

Then came the epidemic which forbade meetings, and peace prevailed before the Storting.

A major climatic deficit

On Thursday, the government’s climate budget showed Norway had cut the least in the past two years. We have a huge shortfall in climate cuts, which the government must cover now by 2023.

The accounts show that:

• Norway has an “emissions credit”. 900,000 tonnes of CO₂ from the last two years to meet climate targets by 2030.
• Of this, 700,000 tonnes will again be collected from 2023 through the budget.
• Norway just wants it No to manage A deal with the European Union on next year’s emissions is based on measures in the accounts. The cuts have a shortfall of 0.2 million tonnes of CO2, but the climate minister believes that this will be addressed by planned measures.
• The government now increases the CO₂ tax with 21 percent. Emissions of greenhouse gases for agriculture, transport, waste and heating buildings are costly.
• Emissions from agriculture have increased slightly, because Norwegians bought more milk and meat during the pandemic. The government is now launching a new sector called Bionova under Innovation Norway, which will receive NOK 87.5 million to support these emissions reduction measures.

Meteorological Minister:- We are on track

VG has asked Climate Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) to respond to ALMA’s concerns.

– “Climate Budget Kid” I agree with everything Alma says. We must act now. I am happy to tell her that we are reducing in line with our commitments in 2023, says Ede.

According to Eide, Norway will meet the cut target we have committed to through the agreement with the EU. Additionally, the climate minister says we should be well on our way to meeting Norway’s emissions halving targets by 2030.

Ede promises that he and the government will cut back as soon as possible and that Norway will eventually become fossil-free.

– What will Alma’s world look like in 2030 and 2050, and yours?

– Unfortunately, even if we manage to meet the tough targets in the UN’s climate plan, it will still be a tougher world than it is today – and it will get even warmer. I have to be completely honest that it will get worse for her and everyone else in 2030 and 2050. Our job is to make it worse, Ede replies.

In Bjolsen, Alma has autumn vacation. Despite Norway’s lagging behind, she is pleased to learn that the climate budget will increase for the coming year.

– It feels good and gives a lot of hope, Alma tells VG on the phone, adding:

– This is very important.