Climate Change and the Environment

A continuation of the Kyoto protocol, the establishment of a green climate fund, and the major emitting countries will take part in a process towards a comprehensive and legally binding agreement. At the end of the extra time, that is the outcome of the climate change conference in Durban, South Africa. Read more

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg arrived at the South Pole on 12 December to stress the importance of Antarctica in understanding the gravity of climate change. During his three day visit the Prime Minister will also mark the centenary of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team reaching the Pole in 1911. Read more

Climate and energy topped the agenda when Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Wednesday. Issues like global health and the global financial crisis were also discussed. While in New York Prime Minister Stoltenberg also recieved the UN Foundation and UN Association of USA's "Champion for Global Change Award." Read more

Norway launches an international energy and climate partnership in support of the UN Secretary-General’s initiative “Sustainable Energy for All”. The Partnership aims to ensure access to sustainable energy for all and avoid greenhouse gas emissions through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took part in the launch. Read more

The Norwegian Government has allocated NOK 27.8 billion (appx USD 4,7) for development in poor countries in 2012. This is a record high aid budget. Efforts on climate change, renewable energy and agriculture will be intensified. Read more

On Wednesday, the Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, and Indonesias Foreign Minister, Dr. Marty Natalegawa, presented Indonesias goals in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). Read more

On biodiversity day, UN highlights social, economic and green benefits of forests. Read more

Norway has signed the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the most important global environmental agreement since the turn of the millennium. Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Tine Mørch Smith, signed on Norway's behalf. Read more

That was UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's assessment at an informal debate on disaster risk reduction in New York, where Norway also took part. Last year, a total of 950 disasters caused by natural hazards were recorded. These events claimed more than 296.000 lives, and affected more than 208 million people. Read more

Climate change and resource scarcity have the potential to pose an existential challenge to globalization. A new scientific report, produced with financial backing from Norway, is highlighting the need for effective multilateral institutions. Read more

At the opening of the International Year of Forests in New York, Norway's Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Lars Peder Brekk, urged the world to see agriculture and forestry in context. This is best way to ensure highest possible level of food production, while preserving the world’s forests. Read more

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg gave Norway’s main address at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. He highlighted two areas that are crucial for the further negotiations: climate change financing and the establishment of a Green Fund, and the conservation of forests. Read more

Climate change financing is challenging, but feasible. That was the main message when Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg handed the final report of the High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Stoltenberg has been co-chairing the group with his Ethiopian counterpart, Meles Zenawi. Read more

The Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, co-chaired the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing 12-13 July 2010, alongside the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr. Meles Zenawi. Read more

Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will lead the UN High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing in developing countries. He succeeds former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the group shall mobilise the resources promised at the Copenhagen Climate Summit last December. Read more

On May 27 in Oslo, heads of state and government, ministers and other representatives of some 50 countries concluded an agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. Around NOK 25 billion has been pledged for the period 2010–2012 for measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. Read more

Norway and Indonesia agreed today to enter into a partnership to support Indonesia’s efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation of forests and peat lands. Indonesia will take immediate and decisive action to reduce its forest and peat related greenhouse gas emissions. Norway will support those efforts with USD 1 billion over the next few years. Read more

Minister of the Environment and International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, was praised after a frank and fruitful dialogue with representatives from indigenous groups during the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Many indigenous people are suspicious of the global forest initiative – REDD – and so the opportunity to meet the Norwegian minister was welcomed. Read more

Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has become member of the UN High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing. The group was recently appointed by the UN Secretary-General, to mobilise the financing promised for efforts against climate change during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen last December. Read more

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said in Oslo today that he will initiate a climate group consisting of the most important forest countries. Read more