The Viking Code

10Operating System: The Viking Code and the Economy

ON A COOL March day in early 2023, a young woman with braids stands in front of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in Norway. She meets with a group of like-minded people. Each breath in the icy air is a sign of her determination. However, her protest is not against the usual suspects, the real or supposed fossil resource lobby, but against the wind parks in Fosen.

To the casual observer, Fosen might just seem like a windy peninsula in central Norway. But in fact, it is one of Norway's windier places, with the potential to become a green energy hub. Here, at the Trondheimsfjord, Norway is realizing an ambitious project: the complete transition to renewable energy.

But the climate activists, led by Greta Thunberg, want the turbines already installed on the peninsula—symbols of hope for many—removed. An environmental activist against green energy—how does that fit together?

The answer lies with the Sami, an indigenous people of Scandinavia. Their reindeer, which play a central role in their way of life, are displaced by the wind turbines. According to a court ruling in 2021, the rights of the Sami are violated by these wind parks. Greta Thunberg's message is clear: green energy, yes—but not at any cost.

While intense debates on climate and international law are held in Norway, young activists in the bustling streets of an Indian metropolis advocate for education as a means to fight poverty. At the same time, economists in ...