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Comment by okareaman | Hacker News Reader

> Moreover, the government has recently decided to expand exploration and production of gas and oil in one of the areas that the very same government acknowledges are most sensitive to climate change — the Arctic Circle.

I believe this is the most egregious charge in the article, which turns out to be true

https://europeangreens.eu/news/norway-opens-arctic-more-dril...

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It's also a non sequitur.

The Arctic Circle being "most sensitive to climate change", doesn't mean drilling for gas and oil in the Article Circle is a cause or any significant factor to this sensitivity (over drilling anywhere else).

In other words:

(1) oil and gas can cause/contribute to climate change

(2) The Article Circle might be most sensitive to climate change

(3) Drilling for gas and oil and thus increasing production will contribute to climate change (after that oil is consumed)

(4) Drilling has impact of its own (like spills) that might damage the Article Circle

But that doesn't mean that drilling in a sensitive to climate change area incurs any more climate change impact to that area over drilling in SA or Texas or wherever.

Climate change impact is about the increased production - not about where the drill happened.

That’s sort of true. The point was imprecise, but the Arctic is also sensitive to oil spills and is dangerous to operate in.

Yes, that kind of impact it can very well have.

But not a "climate change" related one that's tied to the drilling area (for that only the increased consumption would matter, which would happen elsewhere).

Increased supply creates its own demand (via reduced prices).

> A recent study conducted by researchers at London University College concluded that globally, a third of oil reserves, half of gas reserves and over 80% of current coal reserves should remain unused from 2010 to 2050 in order to meet the target of 2 °C. Specifically, the study concluded, all oil and gas reserves north of the Arctic Circle should remain in the ground to halt dangerous climate change.

> It is therefore of huge concern that the Norwegian Ministrer of Petroleum and Energy, Tord Lien from the Progressive Party (FrP), is set to announce the opening of the 23rd licensing round for exploration in 57 new drilling locations in the Arctic, further north than ever.

-- From your link

This is what bothers me about Norway. They have become rich by harvesting abundant natural resources, and now spend that money to try and stop other countries from exploiting their own. It seems hypocritical to me, especially because they present it as being altruistic when they shame poor countries for trying to provide for their people.

I live in Poland, our government love coal ("our black gold" as they call it) and I never heard anything from Norwegian government about this. I don't listen/watch our government radios/tv, so the message should come to me as any other related to climate catastrophe. I'm not saying that you're lying or anything, but I would love to see some examples of this shaming.

It's interesting that hipocracy bothers people more than knowingly turning the world into an unlivable hell for short-term profit.

What major superpower does that remind me of...

All of them? ;)

Not many around. USSR is gone, and China doesn't do this "hollier than thou" facade, plus the prerequisite is that the superpower "now spend that money to try and stop other countries from exploiting their own"

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