Invitation to the media to attend the international celebration of the World Environment Day in Tromsø, June 3- 5.

Norway has been selected by the United Nations to host World Environment Day. The topic this year is “ Melting ice- a hot topic?”  The Ministry of Environment has picked Tromsø to be the host city for a number of profiled events during three days, from 3 June to 5 June. The purpose of the celebrations is to spread knowledge and stimulate broad interest in environmental matters.  About 100 countries around the world celebrate the day each year. 

The Ministry of Environment invites the media to attend the events in Tromsø.

Sunday, 3 June:
12.15-14.00: World Environment Ecumenical Ceremony in the Arctic Cathedral, followed by a procession down to the shore for a blessing of the water. Archbishop Desmond Tutu holds the prayer.

1500-15.30: Launch of UNEPs book Sustainable Tourism in the Polar regions. By Executive Director Dr.Achim Steiner.
Minister of Environment Helen Bjørnøy presents Norwegian policy on tourism in the Arctic, the Spitsbergen Archipelago.
Location: Fjellstua ( Mountain lodge)

16.15-17.45: Opening of International Children’s Art Exhibition. More than 60 artworks from the whole world will be exhibited . His Royal Highness,  Crown Prince Haakon will be present. The 8 regional winners and the global winner will also be present.
Location:  Tromsø Museum

19.30-20.30: Show on Ice and Snow in the Concert Hall, to be televised on NRK- live.

Monday, 4 June:
8.30-9.30: Media launch of UNEPs Global Outlook for Ice and Snow. Presentations by UNEP´s  Executive Director, Achim Steiner and Minister of Environment Helen Bjørnøy
Location: Polarmiljøsenteret, at the Norwegian Polar Institute

10.00-13.00: Our Common Future- 20 years on. Conference on Sustainable Development Key note speech by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland- Special UN envoy on climate change issues and former Chair of World Commission on Environment and Development, Director of WHO and Prime Minister of Norway.  Other speakers include Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other ministers will also take part.

15.00-18-15:  International climate change conference. Global change, Impacts and Actions. Chairman of  IPCC, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Dr. Achim Steiner and Sheila Watt-Cloutier are among the speakers. Minister Helen Bjørnøy holds the opening speech
Location: University of Tromsø

Tuesday, 5 June:
9.00-12.00: International climate change conference continues. With focus on ice melting in the Andes and the Himalayas. Participation of Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Jan- Gunnar Winther and Director for the British Antarctic Survey, Chris Rapley and scientists from Chile and Nepal.  Photod ocumentation on climate change in the polar areas.
Location: University of Tromsø

13.30-17.30: Nordic perspectives on climate change. Special focus on human health, biodiversity and indigenious peoples’ strategies to meet the challenges on climate change.
Location: University of Tromsø

Public events in Tromsø city
Host city Tromsø arranges a  car free day in the inner city and all school children are invited to take part in the various events.
9.00-13.00 Nordic Youth Film Festival, NUFF at the World Theatre
9.00-12-00 Filmmakers meet the youth
12.00-15-00 Youth Conference on ice melting and global warming at Fokus Cinema Theatre
18.00-20.00 Global film festival holds  panel discussion with filmmakers at the World Theatre

Press contacts:
Press contact for WED and the Minister of Environment in Norway:
Ingun Larsen, email: inl@md.dep.no
Mobile: +47 92 60 77 42

Press contact for UNEP´s Executive Director, Dr. Achim Steiner:
Nick Nuttall Spokesperson Office of the Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254-20 7623084
Mobile in Kenya 254 (0) 733 632755
Mobile when travelling 41 79 596 57 37
Fax 254 2 623692
e-mail nick.nuttall@unep.org

Press contact for Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland:
Jon Mørland, mobile: +47 90 77 0206

Press contact for Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg:
Trude Måseide, Head of Communication at the Office of the Prime Minister
Mobile: +47 95 72 65 10, mail: trude.maaseide@smk.no

Press contact for Minister of International Development:
Roy Freddy Andersen, Head of Information
Mobile: 047 90 61 05 30, mail: roy.freddy.andersen@mfa.no

Press contact for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu:
Dan Vaughan, phone: +27 92 571 4753 / +27 21 552 7524
Mail: dan@evmot.com

Press contact for Nordic Youth Film Festival:
Hermann Greuel, email: hermann@tvibit.net
Mobile:+47 90989370

Project coordinator at the Polar Institute:
Sylvi Liljegren: Sylvi@npolar.no

For more information about WED, go to WED homepage