Tesla-loving Norwegians refuse to cut their oil addiction

Bloomberg

Norwegians own more electric cars per capita than anyone else on the planet. But their obsession with Teslas has done little to persuade the nation that there’s a future without oil.
According to a weekend poll, 55% of voters in western Europe’s biggest oil producer want exploration to continue.
The results come as Norway prepares for general elections next month, with oil policy
once again set to be high on
the agenda.
The conservative government says Norway should explore for oil as long as it’s profitable. That’s as the world digests the latest findings of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which show that the planet is heating up much faster than feared, and that a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is the only way to avoid a climate catastrophe.
Norway, the richest nation in Scandinavia thanks to its oil wealth, acknowledges that the IPCC report “confirms the severity of climate change,” and the country has made some investments in renewable energy in an effort to cut emissions.
But the current government insists drilling for oil will still be needed. Higher carbon prices might mean that such exploration will be unprofitable sooner than previously expected, prime minister Erna Solberg has said.
Most polls indicate that Solberg’s conservative coalition won’t be re-elected, after eight years in office.
But with the majority of voters pro-oil, a more left-leaning, climate friendly opposition will face hurdles if it tries to scale back Norway’s most important industry.