How does the Norwegian Government Lack Responsible Actions for Future Generations?

Abstract

This thesis examines the Norwegian government’s approach to ensure justice for future generations and clarifies why the current petroleum policies fail to safeguard the rights of future generations. The thesis employs a historical analysis that traces how intergenerational justice has been ensured since the first discovery of petroleum in Norway and discusses whether it is possible to ensure justice between generations without addressing exported petroleum emissions. The thesis finds that the Norwegian government shifted from focusing on a Rawlsian perception of justice by limiting exploration licenses and restricting the production of petroleum to a Utilitarian perception of justice that enabled an increase in petroleum production and a departure from supply-side constraints. The discussion encompasses two aspects drawn from the Norwegian climate lawsuit. The first aspect discussed is how the government safeguards the rights of future generations, as established in the Norwegian Constitution. The second aspect discussed is whether the government should be responsible for exported petroleum emissions. The arguments presented find that, in light of Utilitarian and Rawlsian theory, the government does not sufficiently safeguard the rights of future generations. The present conception of intergenerational justice does not align with the theories employed in this thesis, and the denial of responsibility for exported petroleum emissions is incompatible with both schools of thought. The thesis finds that the government should define the rights that future generations have and implement supply-side climate policies to ensure justice between present and future generations.