There exists an inter-party compromise platform within the Norwegian Parliament to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Norway has also adopted targets related to the increased production and consumption of renewable energy. The EU has recently agreed to energy and climate-change policy targets which Norway will endorse as part of the EEA agreement. But how will these targets be achieved?

Policy and Governance represents a new centre of social science expertise within SINTEF Energy Research A/S. In close consultation with SINTEF’s technical expertise and knowledge base, the new unit will offer more integrated analyses for both private and public sector interest groups concerned with promoting more effective decision-making processes within the energy sector.

The main focus of the research team is directed towards the following issues:

• What measures are required to achieve agreed energy and climate-change policy targets?
• To what extent can these measures be implemented?
• To what extent do these measures contribute to fulfil the targets?
• What will be the consequences for the various public and private sector interest organisations?
• What obstacles and incentives influence the impact of these measures and their implementation?

By offering greater insight into political processes linked to the topics of energy and climate, the research team on policy and governance will make a contribution towards implementing more sustainable solutions in both the short and long term.