Nobel Peace Prize a Timely Recognition of Climate Change as this Century's Key Challenge

– I wish to congratulate the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, and former US Vice President Al Gore with the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a recognition of global warming as today’s most significant  threat to global as well as regional stability. Addressing the challenges of climate change is therefore vital to achieve global peace and stability, emphasises Minister for the Environment Helen Bjørnøy.

The Nobel Peace Prize is recognition of the IPCC’s tireless efforts to build a scientific basis for action to combat climate change. It’s main achievement has been to limit the scientific uncertainties regarding the reasons for earth’s rising temperature and estimate possible future temperature changes. The Nobel Peace Prize pays tribute to thousands of experts that have devoted their time and efforts for almost two decades to build scientific consensus for decision-makers. Likewise, the Prize rewards Al Gore for his vital efforts to make the climate threats commonly known, particularly pointing to the need for political action.

-Global warming is a result of the rich countries’ emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Yet its effects hit poor countries hardest in the form of floods, drought and rising sea water levels. Millions of people can become climate refugees. If the glaciers of the Himalayas melt, this will have a disastrous effect on the water supply in one of the world’s most densely populated regions. The Sahel region, where there is already little and unstable rainfall, is expected to become more arid, reducing the potential to grow food locally. Rising sea levels will create problems for low lying coastal states. This has the potential to threaten regional and global stability. Curbing climate change is thus a prerequisite for peace and security, says Minister Bjørnøy.
 
She hopes that the Prize will help raise awareness about the urgent need for action to curb global emissions. The IPCC was established in 1988, at which time the world was beginning to recognize global warming as a problem. It represents a unique form of cooperation between scientific communities and decision-makers. Scientists have kept their scientific integrity and presented findings that are hard for Governments to doubt or dismiss.