The Minister of Climate and the Environment toasts nature and protection with one hand, and road development with the other.

In November, the Minister of Climate and Environment, Espen Barth Eide (Ap), accused the previous government of having built “how many highways”. Furthermore, he declared that “in any case, we will not continue, as we have done, to build huts to torment.”

Barely four months later, the same minister agreed to modify one protective regulationsprotective regulationsConservation regulations set the framework for what is legal and what is not in the protected area. to build a highway through the Lågendelta nature reserve.

Is Espen Barth Eide a minister in the “Ministry of Dual Morality” or in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment?

“Now it’s nature’s turn”

In December, the minister was in Montreal, Canada, and, along with 192 other countries, helped pass a historic nature accord. Eide could proudly tell the press that it was finally the tour of nature.

At the same time, the Norwegian environmental movement could be happy that the Norwegian Environment Agency said no. E6 construction through Lågendeltaet nature reserve. Have we finally taken a new direction in Norwegian environmental policy?

In January, Eide visited Haugetun Folkehøgskole where Nature and Youth held their national meeting. When, at a meeting with young people, he had to talk about the positive climate and environmental events of the past year, he highlighted the Environment Agency’s decision to protect the Lågen Delta as a victory for the environment. Was the joy real or was he just pretending?

Will build anyway

In February, the government decided to change conservation rules in order to build the highway across the Lågen Delta. Suddenly, an ecological victory was no longer an ecological victory, and nature, which had been promised its turn, once again had to give way to the highway.

The environmental movement was of course desperate for nature and birds. But the government claimed to have found the best solution. For who? The environment?

It will be difficult for the government to convince me and everyone who knows the concept of dismantling and highways that the new four-lane high-speed highway over the Lågendelta is an environmental measure.

Bravo for the protection And development!

When Eide weakens the legal protection of nature, he also weakens his own credibility. Our environment minister is allowing changes to conservation regulations, while accusing others of building “a lot” of roads.

Eide is creating a time difference in Norwegian politics and administration: protection is no longer protection.

Is it time to look in the mirror? If he had done that, he would have seen that he was toasting nature and conservation with his left hand – and roads and development with his right. How will Espen Barth Eide be remembered? Minister of the environment and climate or minister of double standards?

13-21 years old? Do you also want to write to Si ;D? Send your message to [email protected]. If you wish to remain anonymous, you must clearly indicate this in the email. Here you can learn more about how to submit messages to us.

Will you participate in the comments section?

First read the Ten Commandments from the comment box. Stick to the point!