Prime Minister Støre appointed goodwill ambassador for global sustainability voyage
News story | Date: 24/11/2021 | Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Over a period of 19 months, the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl will sail over 55 000 nautical miles and visit 36 ports across the world. Its voyage to circumnavigate the globe has been given the name the ‘One Ocean Expedition’. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has accepted an invitation to be a goodwill ambassador for the expedition
‘Statsraad Lehmkuhl’s global expedition will shine a spotlight on the importance of the ocean to humanity and the key role of the ocean in realising the Sustainable Development Goals. If people are to continue to be able to rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, we need to take better care of it, and I am honoured to serve as goodwill ambassador to the One Ocean Expedition,’ Mr Støre said.
Prime Minister Støre succeed former Prime Minister Erna Solberg in this role.
Statsraad Lehmkuhl set sail from Arendal in August, and will function as both a research vessel and a floating university. Events have been held at a number of the ports the tall ship has visited, and these have served to strengthen ties between Norway and the country in question and draw attention to the importance of sustainable ocean management. Prime Minister Støre has also joined the High-level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) as co-chair.
‘The Ocean Panel brings together coastal nations that recognise that a sustainable ocean economy must be based on cooperation, research and knowledge. We are now working to ensure that all our national ocean areas are managed sustainably by 2025,’ Mr Støre said.
The Ocean Panel was established in 2018 and comprises heads of state and government from 15 countries. The Norwegian Prime Minister and the President of Palau have co-chaired the Panel from the start.
‘The One Ocean Expedition is part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The ship carries advanced scientific equipment, and scientists and students will collect data and disseminate knowledge, which will be of benefit to all ocean nations,’ Mr Støre said.