Norway and Denmark advance fossil fuel phase-out policies

Scandinavian nations are advancing different legislative measures to reduce fossil fuel reliance. In Norway, Climate and Environment Minister Sigrun Aasland announced a ban on the use of fossil oil and gas for heat production in industrial processes, effective January 1, 2030. This measure targets approximately 300 companies in sectors such as food, fishing, paper, and animal feed that are not covered by the EU emissions trading system. The ban is expected to reduce annual emissions by roughly 300,000 tons once fully implemented, with companies able to apply for Enova support to transition to alternative energy sources.

In Denmark, opposition parties are calling for a more definitive deadline for the phase-out of natural gas in residential heating. While the government has set a goal that no homes should be heated by natural gas by 2035, politicians from the Conservative and Red-Green Alliance parties argue that a concrete, mandatory end date is necessary to provide clarity for citizens. This debate follows a report from the National Association of Local Authorities indicating that 60 municipalities do not expect to approve new district heating projects this year, potentially stalling the green transition.