Energy and Climate Change: High Stakes in the High North

The Minister’s speech was based on the following talking points
(check against delivery)

Slide blue map of the polar area

• East West Institute: Sound policy advise and open channels when “East” and “West” had different meaning.
• The Board will “go North”; visit Northern Norway and Russia – Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula.
• Go West, American history and culture: the open, untouched expanse, the opportunities, room for enterprise.

Main challenges:

• Firstly, political change from Cold War to close regional co-operation. Transforming Russia – and transforming our relation with Russia.
• Secondly, energy potential as oil and gas fields are being developed off-shore.
• And thirdly – climate change (Greenland)
• The High North: most important strategic priority.

Slide Kystvakta

• Elektron – first day in office.

Slide on ice melting 

• The Arctic – a barometer for climate change. Severe consequences - ecosystems and livelihoods.
• South perspective: water shortages, hunger and coastal flooding.
• We need: a legal framework and sound policies

Slide Russian flag

• High North – Wild West? Foreign Affairs (March/April), Scott Borgerson – no law?

Slide blue map of the polar area

• Do we need an Arctic legal order and Arctic policies?
• Yes. We need a rule-based response that builds on the best available scientific data and a responsible and precautionary approach.
• Do we lack an adequate legal order for the Arctic Ocean? No. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• Arctic is not Antarctic. Ocean covered with ice. (Nansen 1890; Fram freeze into drifting ice cover)
• Law of the Sea Convention: rules on ice-covered waters. But limited national implementation.
• The continental shelf beyond 200-nautical-mile: Claims determined by the New York-based Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
• Russia’s claim in 2001: the North Pole included.
• Norway presented documentation in 2006 (just north of the 85th parallel)

Slide Støre - Negroponte

• We need US on board: ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention by all states.

Slide Greenland meeting on boat

• Meeting Greenland, reaffirm circumpolar agreement on main norms and regulations for to the Arctic.
• The Arctic Council (est. 1996), sustainable development and environmental protection.
• Norway chairmanship October 2006 (after Russia). Main priorities: 1) integrated resource management, 2) addressing climate change and 3) a strengthened organisational structure.
• The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) process. 
• The Arctic Council project on the Arctic cryosphere. Retreat of sea ice, melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the reduction of permafrost and snow cover.
• Input to the UN Climate Change Conference in 2009 and to the IPCC's fifth assessment report, due in 2013.

Slide petroleum resources in the Barents Sea

• “High Stakes in the High North”. High energy prices, advanced offshore technologies and need for energy security.
• Uncertain estimates (U.S. Geological Survey) but: Snøhvit and Shtokman gas fields, Prirazlomnoye oil field.
• Maintain high quality of the Barents Sea as clean, rich and productive marine area.
• Integrated Management Plan: Eco-based management. Co-existence petroleum activities, fisheries and maritime transport. Large-scale research programs.
• Peter Mandelson: Norway’s approach to energy and climate “sounds like a paradox, but is in fact profound insight.”
• A dilemma for Norway and for the world.
• Two-pronged target: energy security and climate security.
• Industrialised countries –twin challenge of a) cutting emissions and b) assist developing countries to secure less carbon-intensive growth.
• World reliance on fossil fuels. Carbon capture and storage potential: reducing CO2 emissions by more than 80%.
• Safety: CO2 stays in the reservoirs. New technology to capture and store CO2 from gas-fired power plants being developed. Can be used in coal-fired power plants. Make technology commercially viable.

Slide Støre - Lavrov

• Norway and rapidly developing Russia. Energy, fisheries, commercial, academic and people to people relations. 
• Geography, geology and ecology: Russia important part of the solution.
• Barents Sea. Harvesting of fish stocks, exploration, production and technological developments in the petroleum sector, health, safety and environment (HSE) standards.
• Putin: strategic energy partnership in the High North.
• Gazprom - StatoilHydro Shtokman field together with Total.
• Next week with Foreign Minister Lavrov in Kirkenes and Murmansk. During the Cold War, 196 kilometres border a barrier to interaction between our countries.
• Regular meetings – working to transform the border into a bridge. Manage a fast moving and challenging environment in the High North – characterised, as you will witness when you travel there, by high stakes for us all.