As an Australian pulling my hair out about our domestic policies w.r.t to fossil fuel exports / consumption, let me just say I would take token gestures and virtue signalling over total ignorance, passivity and inaction, any day of the week.

I don't think anyone would disagree that wealthy European countries are privileged, or that they should do more. But there is actual, tangible progress being made here. To maintain the hard-line cynical view is in itself a form of 'virtue signalling'.

> But did you know that the money in the trillion dollar sovereign wealth fund all came from the oil they sold?

I think it's a positive thing that one of the world's largest oil producers is moving away from fossil fuels and that they're being vocal about it.

We could do with more virtue from leading countries, and signalling about it.

> I think it's a positive thing that one of the world's largest oil producers is moving away from fossil fuels and that they're being vocal about it.

That would be a positive thing indeed. However from all I can tell this is not at all what's happening: https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2019/11/14/norway-oil-c... https://www.offshore-mag.com/regional-reports/article/140747... https://bellona.org/news/fossil-fuels/2018-01-norways-new-oi...

> One of the world's largest oil producers is moving away from fossil fuels

I mean, afaik, they're not moving away from generating oil and selling it. Arguably given the SWF is based on oil production/extraction revenues the obvious conclusion is that they were over exposed and this dis-investment is more like sensible diversification.

But maybe that's just cynicism

They're not moving away. They've just opened up a new field.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/19/business/norway-oil-field-cli...

Agreed. All countries want to be seen as leaders, and this can nudge them in the right direction.

I think this is a great achievement by Scotland but I agree with your general point. I was disappointed to see that the NY Times great series on EU farm subsidies and their massive environmental cost got no traction here but negative news about the EU doesn't seem to get much of an audience.