Norway to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2025

Norway looks set to become the first country to ban the sale of cars powered by fossil fuels after politicians apparently agreed that all vehicles must run on green energy by 2025.

An agreement on banning petrol and diesel cars was reported by the Dagens Naeringsliv newspaper and attributed to the right-wing Framstegspartiet (Progress Party), one of the coalition government parties.

It was corroborated by the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party, who support the government in a confidence and supply arrangement, although another report claimed the Progress Party is only looking at the proposals.

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The move follows the agreement of a new climate tax on electricity and the announcement that the country will become the first in the world to commit to zero deforestation, "continuing its trend towards becoming one of the most ecologically progressive countries on the planet", says The Independent.

If true, it would mean Norway, which has made much of its wealth from its North Sea oil reserves, is on track to be the first to agree to the 2025 deadline. A similar law has passed one chamber of the Netherlands parliament en route to becoming law.

Environmental campaigners in the UK have meanwhile accused the government of reneging on its commitment to green energy, which David Cameron made central to the Conservative's platform when he became leader a decade ago.

Critics say the Tory administration has been looking to solve the country's energy problems with fracking and nuclear power at the expense of developing renewable alternatives.