Joint Statement from the United States and Norway on the High-Level Energy and Climate Forum

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Norway.

Begin text:

The United States and Norway met on October 30, 2023, for the high-level U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum to advance key bilateral priorities and joint interests including energy assistance to Ukraine, European energy security, the clean energy transition, and commercial collaboration, including critical minerals and diversifying supply chains.

The United States was represented by high-level officials including head of delegation Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources Assistant Secretary Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Department of Energy U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Andrew Light, Department of Energy U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Bradford Crabtree, as well as representatives from the Department of the Interior, Department of Commerce, the office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Department of Defense, and the National Security Council. Norway was represented by head of delegation Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the Norwegian Embassy in Washington.

The U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum presented an opportunity to exchange views and deepen cooperation on energy policy priorities, including securing reliable oil and gas supplies in a manner consistent with our Paris Agreement commitments, addressing the impact of Russia’s war on energy supplies, promoting renewable energy and decarbonization technology development including carbon management, advancing diversification of supply chains for the green transition, such as for critical minerals, and bolstering support for Ukraine.

Norway is the leading supplier of natural gas to the rest of Europe, having surpassed Russia in 2022. Its exports were increased by eight percent to 122 billion cubic meters from 2021 to 2022. Norway is also an important supplier of oil to Europe. The United States demonstrates a similar commitment to European energy security; last year nearly 70 percent of U.S. LNG exports reached European markets, totaling approximately 72.1 billion cubic meters. These supplies from Norway and the United States were crucial to avoid blackouts and even higher energy prices in Europe in 2022.

The Forum also recognized the central role the business community plays in existing energy production and in accelerating the green transition and thereby reaching our two countries’ emissions reduction targets and climate change goals. Many U.S. and Norwegian companies are already engaged in collaborations to develop and commercialize critical technology, infrastructure, and solutions to advance the green transition.

The United States and Norway are leading donors to Ukraine in the energy sector and have collectively contributed significantly since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion. Norway has so far provided approximately $350 million in financing through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for infrastructure repairs and natural gas purchases and is supplying Ukraine with electricity equipment and generators. Norway has also provided approximately $300 million in infrastructure support through the World Bank, much of which is benefitting the energy sector, and approximately $28 million for nuclear safety.

Norway and the United States are committed to further investment in renewable energy sources and to strengthening cooperation to meet our respective green transition targets.

With the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the United States is joining Norway as a world leader in developing and deploying new clean technology. Norway has established the largest floating offshore wind farm in the world and is a leader in developing and establishing carbon capture and storage technologies as a commercial service to both reduce and remove CO2-emissions. Norway, with its rich hydropower resources, already has an electricity system based on renewables. Norway is also forward leaning on adopting electric vehicles (EVs), boasting the largest number of EVs per capita in the world. It plays a leading role along with the United States in decarbonizing the shipping industry and joining the United States to co-lead the Green Shipping Challenge launched at COP27.

The United States and Norway produce and process critical minerals and are members of the U.S.-launched Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), which catalyzes public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally. Norway has an ambition to be world leader in profitable, prudent, and sustainable utilization of its seabed mineral resources. Norway is the number one exporter of cobalt to the United States and is an integral part of the European supply chain. The United States and Norway aim to diversify and collaborate on building secure and robust supply chains for the green energy transition.

The United States and Norway continue to strengthen their strong bilateral energy relationship by enhancing information sharing and accelerating shared goals.

End text.