Andreas Bjelland Eriksen

Andreas Bjelland Eriksen
Eriksen at COP30 in 2025
Minister of Climate and the Environment
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 October 2023
Prime MinisterJonas Gahr Støre
Preceded byEspen Barth Eide
Member of the Storting
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 October 2025
DeputySolveig Vik
ConstituencyRogaland
Personal details
Born (1992-03-23) 23 March 1992
Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway
PartyLabour
Children2
Alma materNorwegian School of Economics
Bocconi University
University of Oslo
OccupationEconomist
Politician

Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (born 23 March 1992) is a Norwegian economist and politician for the Labour Party. He has served as the Minister of Climate and the Environment since October 2023 and a member of the Storting for Rogaland since 2025. He previously served as a state secretary from 2021 to 2023.

Education

Bjelland Eriksen has studied business administration at the Norwegian School of Economics and the Bocconi University in Milan, and law studies at the University of Oslo.[1]

Political career

Youth league

Bjelland Eriksen was at Utøya during the 2011 Norway attacks, but survived alongside his cousin Vebjørn Bjelland Berg.[2] He also led the Rogaland branch of the Workers' Youth League from 2010 to 2012.[1]

Local politics

Bjelland Eriksen was a member of the Rogaland County Council from 2011 to 2019.[1]

Parliament

Eriksen was elected to the Norwegian parliament, the Storting, at the 2025 election. While serving in government, Solveig Vik has deputised for him.[3]

State secretary

Eriksen was appointed state secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister on 14 October 2021. On 1 August 2022, he was also appointed acting state secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, standing in for Amund Vik, who was on parental leave. In November, his tenure was extended until 30 June 2023.[4]

Minister of Climate and the Environment

He was appointed Minister of Climate and the Environment on 16 October 2023 in a cabinet reshuffle.[5]

2023

A week after assuming office, he received the climate commission's (Klimautvalget 2050) report, which notably concluded that Norway's petroleum industry should gradually be phased out and that renewable energy production should be increased. Petroleum interest organisation, Offshore Norge, was notably critical of the report regarding phasing out the petroleum industry and noted that the industry has a plan for zero emissions by 2050.[6]

Eriksen was part of the Norwegian delegation at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Towards the end of the conference duration, he was critical of the final draft, in particular a paragraph regarding transition away from fossil fuels.[7]

Just before Christmas, Eriksen announced that the government would be upholding the decision for the culling of Norwegian wolves within the designated wood zone in the period of 1 January to 15 February.[8]

2024

In February, former minister Ola Borten Moe argued that the government's climate goals were unrealistic and would heavily affect the economy and people's spending. Eriksen argued the contrary and that experts supported the government's aim of reducing emissions with 55% by 2030, adding that according to them it would be reachable.[9]

Eriksen hosted the EU's energy commissioner Kadri Simson during her visit to inspect water reservoirs in Eastern Norway in March.[10]

Contrary to the Norwegian Environment Agency's concerns about the country not being able to reach 55% in emissions cuts by 2050 in their annual climate report in April; Eriksen expressed optimism for the goal to still be reachable. He highlighted that habits like travelling and eating would be challenging.[11]

In July, Eriksen accused Finnish authorities of violating a bilateral fishing treaty between the two countries regarding the closure of the border river Tana for fishing in order to protect the local salmon population. This came after the two countries that spring had agreed to close the river in order to protect the salmon population, but Finland had recently opted to reopen the river for fishing.[12]

It was announced on 23 August that Eriksen would go on paternal leave between 2 September and 31 December and that state secretary Tore O. Sandvik would be appointed as acting minister in his place.[13][14]

2025

Eriksen announced in February that the government didn't consider products from Temu and Shein viable for Norwegian consumers due to their products containing toxic materials and that they didn't meet Norwegian production standards. He additionally claimed that their products aren't sustainable. A report by the Norwegian Environment Agency had also found toxic materials in eight of thirteen Temu products. Eriksen also encouraged Norwegians to stop buying products from Temu and Shein and also called for stricter checks and regulations on foreign import.[15]

Eriksen shared concerns with the Norwegian Trekking Association in May about considerable intervention in nature and added that "we are essentially losing something that makes us proud to be Norwegian". He also expressed that the Labour Party would be campaigning on stopping further interventions in nature and making Norway "areal neutral" by 2040 "before it's too late".[16]

Upon the failed attempt to present a new climate target for 2035 by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in September, Eriksen stated that it was "unfortunate" that no agreement had been reached. He furthermore expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached in the next round of negotiations and emphasised the importance of cooperation within climate and environmental policy.[17]

While visiting Sel Municipality in early October, Eriksen announced that the government would be spending 42 million NOK to expand areas for the mountain reindeers in an effort to protect their species. The plans has met local resistance, with the mayor and deputy mayor of Sel Municipality and local travel agencies arguing that it could hurt the tourism industry located in the areas the government are seeking to expand in favour of the mountain reindeers.[18]

Eriksen was a part of the Norwegian delegation at the COP30 held in Belém, Brazil. As the negotiations went overtime, he expressed that the recent proposal wasn't good enough, citing that it didn't follow up on the Paris Agreement properly or strengthened climate policy going forwards.[19]

2026

In February 2026, Eriksen defended the implementation of plastic wine bottles, arguing that it made it easier for wine to be transported and that it contributed to greater sustainability. This game after the Progress Party criticised the government for its implementation as "ridiculous symbol policies". Eriksen furthermore criticised the party for constantly opposing climate measures and argued that both glass and plastic bottles could be equally utilised.[20]

Personal life

He hails from Stavanger and is a son of former Stavanger Labour Party mayoral candidate Cecilie Bjelland.[21] He has a younger brother, Jakob, who was with him during the 2011 Norway attacks and also survived.[22] Eriksen is married and has two sons.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ a b c Tvedt, Knut Are. "Andreas Bjelland Eriksen". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Miljøaktivist Vebjørn om fetterens jobb som miljøminister: – Suspekt" (in Norwegian). Dagsavisen. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Eriksen, Andreas Bjelland" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Stortinget.no. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Andreas Bjelland Eriksen er ny statssekretær i Olje- og energidepartementet" (in Norwegian). government.no. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Her er Støre sine nye statsrådar" (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Klimautvalget 2050: Vil stanse norsk oljeutvinning" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Fortsetter forhandlinger på overtid" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Vedtar felling av én helnorsk ulveflokk og to grenseflokker innenfor ulvesonen" (in Norwegian). government.no. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Oppgjør med Borten Moe" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Sp-topp raser etter EU-besøk i Norge: – Uhørt" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Miljødirektoratet slår fast: Regjeringen når ikke klimamålet sitt" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Klima- og miljøministeren mener Finland har brutt samarbeidsavtale" (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK Sápmi. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Tore O. Sandvik blir midlertidig klimaminister: – Overrasket" (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Endringar i regjeringa" (in Norwegian Nynorsk). government.no. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  15. ^ Rodal, Henriette Øy (7 February 2025). "Klimaministeren varsler tiltak mot Temu" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Nettavisen. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  16. ^ Tønset, Arne Egil; Sveen, Eirik Hind (18 May 2025). "Klima- og miljøministeren: – Vi er i ferd med å miste noe av det som er Norge" (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK Troms og Finnmark. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  17. ^ Jensen, Balder Haarklou (19 September 2025). "EU klarte ikke å lande klimamål: – Synd, sier klimaministeren" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Altinget.dk. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  18. ^ Juva, Eilin Spolén; Morønning, Bjørnar; Lusæter, Even; Ulset, Jonas Oden; Bækkelien, Stine (2 October 2025). "Regjeringa set av 42 millionar til å redde villreinen" (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK Innlandet. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  19. ^ Elster, Kristian; Molde, Eivind; Knežević, Milana; Aasen, Kristine Ramberg; Asvall, Halldor (21 November 2025). "Klimaministeren om foreløpig avtaletekst: – Ikke god nok" (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK Klima. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  20. ^ Stokka, Magnus (27 February 2026). "Meir vin på plastflasker: – Latterleg symbolpolitikk" (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK Rogaland. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Medier: Støre henter flere fra Stavanger". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). 15 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  22. ^ Tronstad, Live; Mariussen, Helene; Brekke, Anja A. T. (22 July 2025). "Statsrådene som overlevde" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Profilert redaktør mener denne Stavanger-statsråden provoserer Oslo Arbeiderparti" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  24. ^ Suvatne, Steinar Solås; Gilbrant, Jørgen (24 January 2024). "Babylykke for gullgutten" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
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