Norway To Ban the Use of Oil For Heating Buildings By 2020 (independent.co.uk)

Norway, which is the largest producer of oil and natural gas outside of the Middle East, is set to become the first country in the world to ban the use of gas to heat buildings. The country plans to pass legislation that will stop the use of both oil and paraffin to warm buildings from 2020 onwards. The Independent reports: Vidar Helgesenlaid, the nation's Environment Minister, laid out the plans in a statement, saying: "Those using fossil oil for heating must find other options by 2020." The country advises its citizens to research alternatives to oil such as heat pumps, hydroelectricity, and even special stoves that burn wood chips. By some stage, the legislation could be widened to include restrictions on using natural gas to heat buildings. The Ministry of Climate and Environment said the ban would apply to both new and old buildings and cover both private homes and the public space of businesses and state-owned facilities. The ministry says the plans are expected to lessen Norway's emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases by an estimated 340,000 tons per year, compared to overall national emissions of 53.9 million tons in 2015.

Comments

I heat with coal

[Anonymous Coward]

Got my boiler serviced and ready for action. Every time I see an article about "global warming" I will shovel a little more coal on the fire. Toasty!

Re:Pffft

[OrangeTide]

Otherwise why take away efficient heating from people in a freezing-cold country?

Because oil is more valuable on the global market than to sell domestically (Norway). Making powerful people money has always been more important than keeping the plebs warm in the winter. And in this case, they can paint it as environmentalism, even though they'll still be selling the oil and it will still be consumed somewhere in the world.