- Participation in DSDS was very useful for me, I met with high ranked politicians and experts who gave me valuable inputs, and I had the chance to share Norway`s stand on climate change, said the Minister of the Environment and International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim. In addition to participating in DSDS both Minister Solheim and Mr. Lars Peder Brekk, Minister of Agriculture and Food, enjoyed high level political meetings in New Delhi and grass-root interaction in rural India.
Carbon-Neutral Prime Minister
The Norwegian Prime Minister Mr. Jens Stoltenberg addressed the Summit participants through a carbon-neutral video greeting during the inauguration.
- Every country has a right to develop, to strive for a better future for its children, and we must address the twin challenge of our time, climate change and poverty.
The Prime Minister also underlined the need for a just and forward looking road map to COP15, the meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December.
- The developed countries must lead the way, by cutting emission in their own countries and finance mitigation and adaptation in developing countries, the Prime Minister added.
For more information about COP15 please click here
Indias Key Role
The Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development, Mr. Erik Solheim, participated in a panel discussion on 5th February in the session “Innovative Policies & Technologies”. Minister Solheim focused on the need of leadership from both developed and developing nations.
- We can not reach a global agreement without a consensus between India, China, the European Union and United States, the Minister added.
During his visit to Delhi, Minister Solheim also met with Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Mr. Narain Meena, National Security Adviser Mr. Narayanan, Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, and UN Secretary General Mr. Ban ki-Moon. Minister Solheim also visited an Indo-Norwegian Solar Energy pilot project in the Jhansi-region. The Minister announced that Norway will contribute 2 million Euros to expand the project to more villages.
For more information about Minister Solheim`s village visit please click here (UD Intra)
Food Security Focus
The Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Lars Peder Brekk participated in a panel discussion on 6th February in the session “Building a New Spirit of Cooperation”. Minister Brekk focused on the concern about the effect of climate change on food security. The Minister also underlined the importance of investing in agriculture as a vital part of the fight against climate change. During his visit in Delhi Minister Brekk also met with Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Kamal Nath, the Convenor of Gene Campaign Mrs. Suman Sahai and Secretary General of CUTS Mr. Pradeep S. Mehta. Minister Brekk also visited an Indian village in the Haryana-region, to study how Indian agriculture is modernising, and also to understand better the link between climate change on food security.
For more information about the Indo-Norwegian cooperation please click here
The Royal Norwegian Embassy was among the main sponsors of this year’s DSDS, organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The Embassy recently entered into an agreement for extensive collaboration on energy and climate change with TERI.
For more information about Norwegian Climate Change Policy please click here