Norway to heavily restrict palm oils linked to deforestation

'The Norwegian parliament’s decision sets an important example to other countries and demonstrates the need for a serious reform of the world’s palm oil industry,' activist says

Science Correspondent

Tuesday 04 December 2018 15:48

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Norway is to become the first country to stop its biofuel industry buying palm oil that is linked to catastrophic deforestation.

The parliamentary decision, which is set to come into force from 2020, has been welcomed as a victory in the fight to save rainforests, prevent climate change and protect endangered orang-utans.

It comes after a gradual process in which Norwegian politicians have pushed to ban harmful palm oil from their country, including a vote last year to stop the government itself purchasing the biofuel.

However, that decision was never fully implemented as the government opted to rely on voluntary measures instead.

Monday’s vote was not only stronger, with majority government support, it was also more comprehensive as it covered the entire fuel market.

It called for the government “to formulate a comprehensive proposal for policies and taxes in the biofuels policy in order to exclude biofuels with high deforestation risk”.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Show all 8

1/8Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Winner – Pikin and Appolinaire

Pikin, a lowland gorilla, had been captured and was going to be sold for bushmeat but was rescued by Ape Action Africa. Jo-Anne took this photograph as the gorilla was being moved from her former enclosure within a safe forest sanctuary in Cameroon to a new and larger one, along with a group of gorilla companions. She was first sedated, but during the transfer to the new enclosure she awoke. Luckily, she was not only very drowsy, but she was also in the arms of her caretaker, Appolinaire Ndohoudou, and so she remained calm for the duration of the bumpy drive

Jo-Anne McArthur

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Finalist – Elegant Mother and Calf

Every year from July to late October southern humpback whales migrate north from their Antarctic feeding grounds to give birth in the warm sheltered waters off Tonga. Ray encountered this humpback mother and calf peacefully floating in the plankton-filled water around the island group of Vava’u, Tonga. After Ray gently approached them, the giants swam a bit closer to have a look at him. While they made this elegant turn, Ray took the shot. He later converted the image into black and white which he felt represented the simplicity of the scene

Ray Chin/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Finalist – Warm Embrace

When polar bear mothers and cubs emerge from their dens in the early spring, the cubs stay close to their mothers for warmth and protection. Once the cubs are strong and confident enough, they make the trek to the sea ice with their mother so that she can resume hunting for seals. Debra waited six days near the den of this family, in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada, before they finally emerged. In the most challenging conditions she has ever faced, temperatures ranged from -35C to -55C with high winds, making it almost impossible to avoid frostbite and keep her camera gear functioning properly

Debra Garside/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Finalist – Roller Rider

Lakshitha was on safari in MaasaiMara National Reserve, Kenya, when he spotted an unusual sight – a lilac-breasted roller riding a zebra. Normally they prefer to perch high up in the foliage, but his roller spent an hour or more riding around and enjoying the occasional insect meal. Lakshitha waited for the surrounding zebras to form the perfect background before taking this tight crop

Lakshitha Karunarathna/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Finalist – Sloth Hanging Out

Luciano had to climb the cecropia tree, in the protected Atlantic rainforest of southern Bahia, Brazil, to take an eye-level shot of this three-toed sloth. Sloths like to feed on the leaves of these trees,and so they are often seen high up in the canopy.

Luciano Candisani/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Shortlisted – Reach for the Sky

Steven was taking pictures of a small group of adult roseate spoonbills in a rookery in Tampa Bay, Florida, when he noticed a newcomer flying in from afar. With just enough time to back up a few steps, Steven photographed the bird landing exactly square to his camera with its wings in a stunning symmetrical U-shape

Steve Blandin/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Shortlisted – Holding On

This close-up captures the touching moment an infant lays its small hand in the big hand of its mother. Jami took this photograph while she was in Borneo working on a story about the effects of palm-oil agriculture on orangutan habitat. Loss of primary rainforest is a serious threat to this already critically endangered species

Jami Tarris/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice award

Shortlisted – Blood Ivory

In a protected area of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, a ranger’s bloody hand rests on a heavily grained ivory tusk, also covered in the blood of an African elephant. The bull had to be destroyed due to a severe tusk infection that couldn’t be treated.The tusks were removed to a place of safekeeping, where they were carefully catalogued in accordance with legislation

Peter Chadwick/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The decision comes after Norway’s consumption of palm oil in fuels reached an all-time high last year, a result of measures to cut fossil fuel use in transport.

Monday's vote was welcomed by Norwegian environmentalists, who said the move should inspire other nations to follow suit.

“The Norwegian parliament’s decision sets an important example to other countries and demonstrates the need for a serious reform of the world’s palm oil industry,” said Nils Hermann Ranum of Rainforest Foundation Norway.

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A report released by environmental consultancy Cerulogy and Rainforest Foundation Norway earlier this year showed that under current biofuel targets, global demand for palm oil will increase by six times over the next decade.

Deforestation in palm oil hotspots such as Indonesia have been linked to the decline of wildlife including orang-utans, and the persecution of native people.

There is also a considerable climate risk from a sixfold inflation in palm oil demand, with 7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions predicted over the next two decades in that scenario – more than the annual emissions of the US.

The EU has agreed to phase out biofuels linked with deforestation and habitat destruction, but not until 2030.

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