The Norwegian government said its fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions includes plans for a carbon capture and storage project by 2020.

Norwegian Energy Minister Tord Lien said carbon capture and storage technology is a necessary component of an effort to cut greenhouse emissions.

A report last year from the International Energy Agency said more investments are needed in carbon sequestration programs like CCS, describing them as essential to reducing greenhouse gases in a world still "hooked on fossil fuels."

"A comprehensive commitment to CCS is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Lien said in a statement Wednesday. "The government's ambition is to realize at least one full-scale demonstration facility by 2020."

The government said the CCS effort would be challenging, however, because of a lack of land-based facilities suitable for CCS.

The Norwegian economy relies on renewable resources for energy production, but is the regional leader in oil and natural gas production.

The government said it was ready to join European efforts to develop full-scale CCS projects apart from the pilot ambitions in Norway.