Norway to take a leading role in addressing environmental issues in development cooperation

Minister of International Development Erik Solheim and Minister of the Environment Helen Bjørnøy launched the Norwegian Government’s new Action Plan for Environment in Development Cooperation today.

“The global environment is being destroyed and it is the poorest who are most severely affected by these changes. Norway intends to play a leading role in addressing environmental issues in development cooperation,” said Minister of International development Erik Solheim, who indicated that the budget for this cooperation would be substantially increased.

Sixty per cent of the services provided by the ecosystems are being utilised in an unsustainable manner. We are consuming too much water, overharvesting fish stocks, polluting the air, changing the climate and eradicating species. According to the UN, 3 billion people will live in areas with water scarcity in 2025. Substantial changes in policy, technology and the measures employed will be needed to address the climate challenges we are facing.

The Government will advocate putting environmental issues higher on the national and international agenda. Norway will concentrate its efforts on four thematic priority areas:

• sustainable management of biological diversity and natural resources
• management of water resources, water supply and sanitation
• climate change and access to clean energy
• hazardous substances

Norway will use the Action Plan for Environment in Development Cooperation to help enable developing countries to deal with the environmental challenges we are facing.

This cooperation is intended to assist developing countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and help poor people to improve their health and living conditions. There is a close link between the environment and poverty. Poverty reduction and development are dependent on the conservation of nature’s services and natural resources, local participation in the management of nature and the environment and strengthening the rights of the local population to natural resources.

Norway will focus on competence-building and improved environmental management. Cooperation with UNEP and UNDP will play a key role here. Environmental considerations will be taken into account in all aspects of Norway’s development cooperation. Particular priority will be given to integrating environmental considerations into our efforts in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, oil and energy.

Norway will conduct a broad-based dialogue with relevant environmental authorities in our partner countries. We will actively promote the integration of environmental concerns into the work of the UN and the World Bank. And we will give priority to international organisations that intensify their environmental efforts.

NGOs will be key cooperation partners in these efforts, particularly in terms of empowering the local population, including indigenous peoples, to claim and manage their rights to property, land and natural resources more effectively.

“Competent environmental management and an active environmental movement are important in order to ensure sustainable development. This is true both in the North and in the South. It is vital to improve environmental capacity and competence in our partner countries,” said Minister of the Environment Helen Bjørnøy.

The implementation of the action plan will require increased environmental competence and more resources in all parts of the development cooperation administration. Therefore, an advisory forum for Norwegian environmental development cooperation and a training programme on environment and development for staff who administer development funds will be established. Norad’s key role in providing advice, evaluations and quality assurance and disseminating results will be strengthened.

Press contact for the Minister of International Development: Acting Head of Information Odd Naustdal, mobile phone: +47 91 14 94 90

Press contact for the Minister of the Environment: Information Adviser Ingun Larsen, mobile phone: +47 92 60 77 42