To my knowledge, no nation has ever received the Nobel Peace Prize, or any other Nobel Prize for that matter. Organizations have, such as the UN chemical weapons inspectors or the panel on climate change, but never whole nations. But I am going to go right past looking up the rules and nominate the country of Norway for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
For saving the world.
...hopefully.
That's a pretty big claim to make. Saving the world? Really? Well, in a sense, yes. Because at this point, what humans are doing to the planet is already changing and distorting this world into a whole new one. WE HAVE TO STOP, AND WE CAN'T STOP. The IPCC practically screams at us the worst is coming, while the most competent and informed climate writers remind us theirs are conservative predictions.
Something must be done.
Something big.
Something like what Norway's about to do.
According to a report on Climate News Network, the new center-right coalition (oh, to have a sane and loyal opposition!) of Norway, headed by second female prime minister Erna Solberg, plans on investing a significant portion of its sovereign wealth fund to invest in clean and sustainable energy projects around the world, especially in the developing world.
The Norwegian fund is a product largely of its oil profits, so the project funds will go to offset the oil. Norway is also working with the WWF to end its use of tar sands and coal.
The sovereign wealth fund totals roughly $750 billion. Even if only 5%, as requested by WWF, is allotted towards renewable energy projects, that is still an injection of $37.5 billion into renewable energy projects worldwide. Better yet, Norway will probably be opening the door for other nations to act in a similar manner.
This is extremely good news in the Fight For a Livable Climate. It is especially good when paired with the recent news of solar and wind reaching and surpassing grid parity in many places, both in the US and internationally.
With luck and good implementation, Norway's massive investment in renewable energy worldwide could be the tipping point in beginning to truly combat climate change on a grand scale.
(P.S. Can't stay and talk, sorry. Moving, and the cleaning crew comes tomorrow, and still much work to do.)