OSLO: Norwegian parliament voted to ban domestic use of palm oil-based biodiesel in a bid to protect the climate and rain-forests. The parliament urged the Norwegian government to seek environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. This desire emerged after a report, released by Rainforest Foundation Norway, showed that palm oil-based biofuel is actually worse for the global climate than the use of fossil fuels, perhaps even several times worse. Although the government of Norway is yet to agree on parliament’s request to ban the public procurement and use of palm oil-based biofuel, it had stated one year before that the government’s public procurement policy would become fully deforestation-free to ensure that the nation does not contribute to global deforestation.
Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has already threatened Norway with retaliation if the Norwegian government goes ahead with parliament’s vote to ban the public procurement and use of palm oil-based biofuel. Retaliation would involve the full stop of Norwegian salmon imports into Indonesia. Currently, about 60 percent of total salmon imports into Indonesia originate from Norway. Lukita also met Sandberg on Wednesday. Based on local media Sandberg stated that the Norwegian government emphasizes the importance of fair trade between both countries.
