Norway’s Stoltenberg initiates climate group on forests

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said in Oslo today that he will initiate a climate group consisting of the most important forest countries.

”As part of out efforts to reach a binding climate agreement in Mexico in 2010, I will initiate the establishing of a group consisting of the most important rain forest countries, among them Brazil, Indonesia, Guyana, Gabon, Papua New Guinea and others”, Stoltenberg said. The Prime Minister said he will invite forest countries to meet in Oslo in the first half of 2010.

The new climate group will coordinate and contribute to measures in the most important forest countries, and work to secure that the efforts against deforestation will be central in a new climate agreement.

”According to the UN Climate Panel, deforestation in developing countries represents 17 per cent of the total emission of greenhouse gases. Efforts related to rain forests may lead to one third of the emission cuts needed by 2020. By reducing deforestation we may see the largest, quickest and cheapest cuts in greenhouse gas emissions”, Stoltenberg said.

”Norway will now cooperate closely with the Mexican presidency in order that we may have a binding climate agreement at the next climate conference (COP 16) in Mexico in 2010”, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.