"This is a very important moment", says a pleased Minister of Environment, Mr. Børge Brende. "Global climate change is the largest environmental threat to our planet in this century. By being one of the first industrialised countries to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, we signal the seriousness we attach to this problem and that we want to do our share to solve it."

It is expected that the EU and Japan also will ratify the Kyoto Protocol in short time. So far, 56 countries have been reported to have ratified the agreement, including three other industrialised countries: Romania, The Czech Republic and Iceland. The Kyoto Protocol will enter into force 90 days after 55 countries have ratified it, including industrialised states accounting for at least 55% of 1990 greenhouse gas emissions from this group. Entry into force is therefore now up to the industrialised countries.

Norway had hoped the Protocol would enter into force by the World Summit in Johannesburg in August. "Now this aim does not seem achievable, but we encourage all countries to do their utmost to bring a positive message on their ratification to Johannesburg", says Brende. "Norway is in the forefront in the fight against climate change. We are doing our share to give life to the Protocol. Now we will follow up ratification by introducing new and innovative policies and measures to limit emissions of greenhouse gases."

The Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change establishes legally binding commitments on limitations and reductions in emissions of six greenhouse gases. The Protocol was adopted in 1997 and commits Norway to limit its emissions of greenhouse gases in the period 2008-12 to a maximum of 1 per cent above its emissions level in 1990.

Contact: Adviser Georg Børsting, +47 222 46092