Norway to create carbon-emissions programSeptember 11, 2012 - 13:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Norway's government says it will create a carbon-emissions program to compensate domestic manufacturers, in the hope of dissuading them from moving their industries to countries with less stringent climate regulations, AP reports. The government says that the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme, which Norway adopted in 2005, has led to an increase in energy prices and a reduction in the competitiveness of domestic enterprises. The EU's scheme allows for countries to compensate industry, and Norway's government says its own program will be based on calculation methods in the EU guidelines. The Norwegian program will go into force in July 2013 and last until 2020. Environment Minister Bard Vegar Solhjell said Tuesday, Sept 11, in a statement that the program will combine "good climate policy with good industrial policy." Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |