Opening of ISO Conference

I am pleased that you have chosen to meet here in Norway, even more so since it is the first time you gather in Europe. Norway is deeply integrated in the European economy, we are part of Europe's internal market, and as dependent on your work as any other country, perhaps even more dependent, since we import about 50 per cent of our consumption.

While the vocabulary of standardization may sound esoteric to people at large, anyone who has ever bought an appliance abroad and been unable to use it in one's own country will recognize its importance.

And anyone who has ever breathed the fumes of a lorry produced in a country with lax emission standards will recognize the importance of standardization for the environment.

With the globalization of markets, all products can be sold almost everywhere. If standards differed, they could not. The private sector has often found itself squeezed between the need to respond to environmental demands and short term profit objectives.

The urge to maintain a competitive edge often works against the environment in an international economy where competitors may be subject to more lenient requirements. Consequently, the ground rules for economic operators must work in a wider geographical context.

You are part of a process leading to environmental improvements. Your contribution is crucial for securing the necessary changes among industry and market operators. While industry used to be a main reason for environmental degradation, it is increasingly becoming part of the solution to environmental problems.

There are several reasons for this change.

The polluter pays principle has forced industry to improve since unsound practices would have direct and negative effect on the balance sheets.

The cradle to grave approach has inspired a whole new thinking around industrial processes. It has become almost as compelling to unbuild a car as to build one.

Industry's own initiatives and voluntary agreements are leading the way towards environmental excellence.

An increasing number of companies are now participating in ISO-processes of shaping new industry standards for environmental management, for performance evaluation, audits, labeling and life cycle assessments. By doing so, the business community takes responsibility for business conduct and an elevated level playing field.

Your efforts must aim at real progress, not at petrifying an idea whose time has passed. Our common concern must be to constantly improve industry's environmental performance and industry must lead that way unless it wants to be lead.

Moreover, you must keep up the speed of your work. This is necessary if you want to retain the initiative. Not all regulations are cost-effective. But regulations may become necessary if progress is too slow.

Finally, it is important to include countries from all continents and countries at different levels of development. This means that there is a need for flexibility in the standards. Flexibility is also needed for the standards to fit both large and small companies. But flexibility must not be attained at the expense of clarity, simplicity and efficiency, and must not become an excuse for slowing down the process.

The process of change must be dynamic and will require economic activity at a high level. We will see the need to replace capital stock at a high rate to promote environmentally efficient technology. We will see investments in infrastructure required to meet an entirely new model of future activity. Consequently, the private sector, trade unions as well as governments should see the great opportunity for investments, and for employment, created by the need for change.

I wish you a rewarding stay in Norway. We are proud to have you as our guests. And we expect the conference to advance us further towards sustainable development and to help industry meet its responsibility towards present and future generations.