Politicians praise 'the world's greenest fleet' while citizens drive Teslas guilt-free.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are definitely a part of the solution for a sustainable future. Yet, beneath this narrative lies a paradox seen through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10. Norway’s EV transition has not reduced inequality, but relocated it, as costs fall on those who will never drive a Tesla. As economist Kate Raworth argues, economies that ignore social floors and ecological ceilings inevitably reproduce inequality.
On paper, Norway has come a long way. By the end of 2024, 88,9% of all new passenger cars sold in Norway were fully electric, according to The Norwegian EV Association. Politicians claim incentives make growth and sustainability align, yet the numbers reveal hidden emissions.
Emissions from driving have dropped by 89% since 2000, while production-related emissions, mainly from batteries and heavy components, have increased by 81%.
Analysis from 2025 shows that the carbon footprint per kilometre across Norway’s vehicle fleet has decreased by just 8% over the past 25 years. That’s the world’s green miracle. Eight percent.
The Illusion of a Clean Transition
In 2025 alone, EV owners will enjoy tax breaks worth nearly 50 billion NOK, a green privilege paid for by the public. From a Raworthian perspective, Norway’s EV policy expands consumption beyond the ecological ceiling while reinforcing inequality at the social floor.
These subsidies disproportionately benefit wealthy households purchasing luxury EVs, whereas equivalent investment in public transport electrification would serve all income levels. Ironically, these subsidies are primarily financed by oil revenues; the same fossil fuel economy Norway claims to be transitioning from. By ignoring its EV policy's indirect emissions and external costs, Norway risks violating the essence of SDG 10.4.
Fiscal policy should reduce inequality, not disguise it. To align its climate leadership with equity, Norway should adopt progressive policies, such as means-tested EV incentives and mandatory supply chain transparency, to ensure the green transition's benefits are shared rather than shifted abroad.
The Human Cost
Behind every silent EV motor lies a supply chain built on inequality, and Raworth’s framework reveals how environmental progress often comes at the expense of human equity in global supply chains. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produces 70% of the world's cobalt, Amnesty International has documented child labour and toxic exposure in mines supplying EV Batteries. Further south, lithium extraction in Chile and Argentina drains vital water sources, devastating indigenous communities. These realities never appear in Norway’s climate reports. Yet, they are the foundation of its “green” success.
Ironically, the country that prides itself on equality exports inequality through its supply chain. This imbalance directly conflicts with SDG 10.6, calling for representation of developing nations in global decision-making.
Battery Reality: Why Green Isn’t Always Clean
“Zero-emission vehicles” carry a significant carbon debt before hitting the road. Battery production alone significantly increases EVs' carbon footprint, exceeding what most drivers imagine. In reality, the production process raises environmental concerns due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels in China. Research from 2022 shows that compared to gasoline cars, the production emissions of EVs have increased by 49%. This difference equals about 1294 litres of fuel.
With this amount, the gasoline car could travel about 18,000 km, equivalent to a year and three months. In addition, when the government encourages the population to replace their cars with new EVs, the cycle resets with a new vehicle, a new battery, and subsequently new emissions abroad.
The central dynamic of greenwashing comes to the surface when the public perceives that the batteries are sustainable. The carbon from a diesel car disappears from Oslo’s streets and resurfaces in Asian battery factories, and what looks sustainable from a Norwegian driveway becomes inequality on a global scale.
Under SDG 10.5, institutions should be transparent and accountable. From this lens, inequality is embedded in the model: Norway's climate story appears clean, only because the costs appear in other countries' reports.
Wait, Are We Being Too Harsh on the Teslas?
Of course, critics might say we’re missing the bigger picture. Supporters argue that Norway’s electricity grid was 98% renewable in 2020. From this perspective, replacing fossil-fuel vehicles with electric ones is not overconsumption but evolution.
Research from 2022 shows that EVs produce much lower total lifetime emissions than diesel vehicles, even if recharged with conventional electricity. Supporters also emphasize that these emissions will decline as battery factories transition to renewable energy and recycling systems improve.
Norway’s electric revolution didn’t happen by accident. The economic incentives set the transition in motion. However, the October 2025 state-budget proposal marks a critical shift in policy orientation.
Rather than indicating a retreat from sustainability objectives, the budget’s reduction of electric vehicle subsidies signifies a maturation of Norway’s sustainability strategy, suggesting that the electric vehicle market has reached a level of stability that no longer necessitates extensive public financial support.
Plugged In, But Still in the Dark
True sustainability demands honesty and equity. Norway's electric revolution will never align with SDG 10, as it perpetuates inequality through its supply chains and rewards wealthy consumers with public funds.
As future citizens, we see Norway’s EV policy not only as an environmental challenge but as a test of how equitable sustainability can be. The path forward requires full life-cycle emission accounting, shifting subsidies from private luxury vehicles to public transport, and ensuring supply chain transparency.
As Raworth reminds us, true sustainability must operate within both environmental and social boundaries. If Norway wants to lead the green transition, it must ensure that no one, abroad or at home, pays the hidden price of its success. It’s easy to drive a Tesla, but harder to face who pays the price.
References:
Buberger, J., Kersten, A., Weyh, T. & Thiringer, T. (2022). Total CO2-equivalent life-cycle emissions from commercially available passenger cars. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.
Pengwei, L., Xia, X. & Guo, J. (2022). A review of the life cycle carbon footprint of electric vehicle batteries. Separation and Purification Technology.
Ross, F. (2019). Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist Regional and Business Studies.
Rousseau, L. S. A., Næss, J. S., Lhuillier, M., Billy, R. G., Schön, P. & Hertwich, E. G. (2025). Norway’s electric vehicle revolution: unveiling greenhouse gas emissions reductions and material use of passenger cars across space and time. Environmental Research Letters,
Yang, Z., Huang, H. & Lin, F. (2022). Sustainable Electric Vehicle Batteries for a Sustainable World: Perspectives on Battery Cathodes, Environment, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Life Cycle, and Policy. Advanced Energy Materials.
Winner of Opinion Essay Competition Autumn 2025
This essay is the winner of BI's sustainability opinion essay competition for the Autumn 2025 semester. The students received a prize of 10.000 NOK. Read more about the competition.