Norway's 2030 agriculture climate target faces a critical challenge as political opposition to a mandatory methane inhibitor requirement now holds 81 parliamentary votes. With only the Conservative Party (Høyre) remaining undecided, a majority to scrap the key policy measure is within reach, throwing the country's planned emissions cuts from livestock into doubt.
Five parties from across the political spectrum – the Progress Party (Frp), the Christian Democrats (KrF), the Centre Party (Sp), the Socialist Left Party (SV), and the Red Party (Rødt) – have united to instruct Agriculture Minister Nils Kristen Sandtrøen of the Labour Party (Ap) to abandon the goal of implementing the mandate. Their collective 81 mandates in the 169-seat Storting are just four short of a majority. The decisive move now rests with Høyre, which is scheduled to discuss its position in a group meeting tomorrow.
A Fractured Consensus on Farming Emissions
The dispute centers on a core component of Norway's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its agricultural sector. Through a binding agreement with the state, the farming industry has committed to cutting 5 million tons of COâ‚‚ equivalents by 2030. The use of methane-reducing feed additives, known as methane inhibitors, was identified as a central tool to achieve a significant portion of these cuts. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas primarily produced by ruminant animals like cows.
In the 2025 agricultural settlement, a specific target was established to work towards introducing a requirement for dairy farmers starting in 2027. The proposed rule would have mandated that farmers use methane-reducing feed for a minimum of 80 days per year to remain eligible for livestock subsidies. This policy was designed to create a direct financial incentive for adopting the climate technology.
The Collapse of a Key Tool
The political momentum to scrap the requirement follows a major practical setback for the industry. The dairy cooperative Tine, a dominant player in the Norwegian market, recently halted the use of the leading methane inhibitor product, Bovaer. This decision undermined the commercial and practical foundation for the planned mandate, leaving many farmers and politicians questioning its feasibility. The parties now seeking to cancel the target argue the policy is no longer workable without a widely available and trusted product.
Høyre's agricultural policy spokesperson, Erlend Larsen, has expressed a nuanced position that may prove pivotal. While stating he does not wish to completely abandon the methane reduction target, he is open to postponing it. "You shouldn't go over dead bodies, as the saying goes. It's a shame that Bovaer doesn't work as we thought," Larsen said. His comments suggest a potential compromise, such as a delay rather than an outright cancellation, which could fracture the emerging 81-vote bloc against the mandate.
The Storting's Difficult Calculus
The unusual alliance pushing to scrap the requirement highlights the political sensitivities surrounding Norwegian agriculture. It brings together parties typically at odds on most issues, from the left-wing SV and Rødt to the centrist Sp and the right-wing Frp. Their unity is based on a shared concern—whether framed as economic practicality for farmers, skepticism of the technology, or a desire to renegotiate the entire climate agreement—that the current path is untenable.
For the Labour Party-led government and Agriculture Minister Sandtrøen, the situation presents a significant policy dilemma. The 5-million-ton reduction commitment is a formal part of Norway's climate action plan. Removing one of its central pillars without a replacement strategy would create a substantial gap in the national emissions budget. The government must now assess whether to defend the original agreement and rely on Høyre's support, or enter into negotiations to revise the entire agricultural climate package.