Terms of reference

Greenhouse gas emissions, and to some extent removals, are closely linked to levels of economic and other activity in a wide range of areas. Efforts to reduce emissions and enhance removals may therefore require action in many different sectors of the economy and society.  The work of the technical committee on methodology relating to climate change mitigation must be coordinated with other work on the scientific basis for Norway’s climate policy.

Analyses of mitigation measures are conducted to estimate the emission reduction potential and economic cost of different measures. The economic cost is influenced by the combinations of policy instruments that are being used to promote action. Several methods and models are used to evaluate costs and emission reduction. The authorities (ministries and directorates) regularly review policy instruments to provide part of the basis for decisions on climate policy. This work will be continued.  

The tasks of the technical committee are: 

  • in line with the Climate Change Act, to propose methods for calculating the expected effect of Norway’s national budget on greenhouse gas emissions, including methods for estimating the effect on emissions of changes in revenues and expenditure in the budget, and in addition, methods of estimating the mitigation effect and cost of policy instruments that are not included in the national budget;    
  • to identify areas where there is considered to be a particular need for knowledge development relating to mitigation analyses and/or reviews of policy instruments;  
  • to provide advice on improvements in the methodology for mitigation analyses and reviews of climate policy instruments.  
  • to outline the main challenges associated with the current choice of methodology and provide input on long-term model development for the benefit of public agencies, and how model development should be organized. This includes to:
    • assess whether current models for assessing costs and emission effects cover the need for climate analyses and propose development and/or further development of such models.
    • consider how the development of such models should be organized.
    • enquire about the model use in neighboring countries and establish contact with the relevant model environment.
    • assess whether the models are suitable for analyzing the mitigation effect and cost of policy instruments and the effect of the national budget on greenhouse gas emissions.

Deliverables:

  • The committee is to prepare an annual report on its activities and the advice it provides. The report should also include recommendations on topics within its terms of reference that it is considered to be particularly important to follow up.
  • The committee’s reports and recommendations must be made available on a website.  
  • In the period up to 2023, the committee should focus on the assessment of models, in addition to continuing the work on methods for calculating the expected effect of Norway’s national budget on greenhouse gas emissions.

The committee’s remit does not include climate change adaptation or the scientific basis for global warming.  

The committee reports to the Ministry of Climate and Environment.