Norway Parties Brace for Oil Showdown as UN Report Fuels Debate

With a month to go before elections in Norway, the UN’s landmark climate report is fueling debate on oil policy, with parties preparing for a political showdown that could upend the nation’s most important industry.

Oil and gas exploration in Norway, western Europe’s largest producer, has long been a divisive topic, but increasing alarm over rising temperatures has made it a crucial issue in the run-up to the Sept. 13 polls. While the opposition Labor Party, an advocate of the fossil-fuel industry, is on course to win, it’ll likely need to join forces with one of the smaller parties that are calling for change.