By Andrew Kroglund
On Monday 8 September Norway has elected the new members of Parliament. The so-called red-green parties won 87 seats, versus the liberal-conservative parties who obtained 82 seats in Parliament.
The governing Labour Party received 28,2 % of the votes, whilst their main rivals, the Conservative Party and the far-right Progress Party respectively obtained 14,6 % and 23,9 % of the votes.
With the help of the Socialist Party (5,5%), the Red Party (5,3%) and the Green party (4,7%), the Labour Party will be able to build alliances strong enough to carry out their main policies.
For the Norwegian Grandparents Climate Campaign this is an inspiring result and will leave us with a lot of room for manoeuvre and lobbying. What is good, though, is that a basic solidarity policy, both nationally and internationally, will continue.
But there are a lot of challenges also, in the next four years. The main “enemy”, the oil- and gas industry, will still be a dominant force, and the Labour Party needs to be severely challenged on this issue, and on creating green jobs.
We will also press for more climate financing for low-income countries, outside the aid budget. There must be more money for railways and fossil-free means of transport. And of course, we must take care of nature and its role in keeping climate change in check.
We have already planned a stunt to challenge the Labour Party and the new Parliament. The Norwegian Grandparents Climate Campaign and the children’s organization, the Environmental Agents, will present Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre with a homemade small chair with the inscription “Children’s voice” – as a daily reminder of the responsibility he has to think long-term.