Norway
CSD-15 IPM
STATEMENT BY THE NORWEGIAN DELEGATION
ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPMENT STATES (SIDS)
SPEAKING POINTS
Globally, SIDS are barometers for climate change. Thus, they are critical testing grounds for
applied processes and programmes that will strengthen the adaptive capacities of human
societies confronting climatic change.
As clearly stated by the panelists and the distinguished representative of the AOSIS, we need
to strengthen our efforts to promote action in the area of adaptation and reduction of
vulnerability in small island development states. Support to the Mauritius Strategy is vital.
Madam Chair,
Although different in many respects, the Arctic region and the small island development
states have many challenges in common pertaining to climate change. Reliance on economies
based on natural resources on land and at sea, transportation and communication challenges,
and coastal zones of great importance for the human and natural environment, has already
been mentioned.
In 2005 the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) concluded that the Arctic is expected
to feel the effects of climate change sooner and more severely than other regions of the earth.
It also emphasized the importance of changes in the Arctic climate to climate processes in the
rest of the world. The link between melting ice and rising sea water levels is one example.
The shared challenges and links between the Arctic and small island developing states
underscore the need for cooperation and transfer for knowledge between these regions. In this
regard, the Norwegian government has provided support for a project called ?Many Strong
Voices?. This is a collaborative effort where partners from the Arctic and small island
developing states cooperate in a five-year programme focused on adaptation and vulnerability
assessment. The ?Many Strong Voices? project draws on the existing experiences from the
ACIA work.
Norway aims through her chairmanship of the Arctic Council 2006-2009 at increasing the
knowledge of climate change effects in the Arctic. In cooperation with the other Arctic states
we want to develop effective adaptation strategies in order to reduce the negative impacts of
climate change in the Arctic. Experience from this region may be valuable for resource
management, capacity-building for research, data collection and analysis, risk assessments
and other strategies in other states or regions that are vulnerable to climate change such as the
small island developing states.
Madam Chair,
We need to provide increased levels of assistance to developing countries? adaptation to
climate change. Total donor funding for climate change adaptation projects through the
currently available multilateral mechanisms remains at very low levels, in the order of 180
million dollars, of which only some 84 million dollars have been collected.
The financing needs dwarf the budgets of multilateral institutions such as UNEP and the
Global Environmental Facility (GEF). We welcome the establishment of the Adaption Fund
under the UNFCCC. However, the financing gap calls for additional efforts, including new
and innovative financing mechanisms. Norway has initiated a discussion on the desirability
of pooling parts of the future revenue from solidarity levies on air travel to fund climate
change adaptation costs in developing countries. Norway hosted a roundtable discussion at an
international meeting in Oslo 6 February on this issue and will continue this discussion with
interested parties.
To conclude, my Delegation would like to echo what has been said about climate change and
the need to agree on a broad and ambitious poast-2012 framework. The CSD is not an arena
for climate change negotiations. However, it is our view that the CSD should make it clear
that climate change must be taken seriously. We believe that the efforts to tackle climate
change must be guided by the need to prevent the global mean temperature from increasing by
more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This will require radical changes in production and
consumption patterns, and reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions by around 50% by
2050.
And these reductions must start soon.
In order to steer developments in the right direction, the developed countries must take the
lead and a major share of the responsibility. But with reference to our ?common but
differentiated responsibilities?, it is important that the developing countries are also involved,
because it is in these countries that the future growth in emissions will take place. Norway
will fulfil its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, and is currently implementing measures
with this in view. Norway is also ready to take its share in a more ambitious agreement. At the
same time we are increasing our support for measures for adapting to climate change and
reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.
Thank you.
STATEMENT BY THE NORWEGIAN DELEGATION
ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPMENT STATES (SIDS)
SPEAKING POINTS
Globally, SIDS are barometers for climate change. Thus, they are critical testing grounds for
applied processes and programmes that will strengthen the adaptive capacities of human
societies confronting climatic change.
As clearly stated by the panelists and the distinguished representative of the AOSIS, we need
to strengthen our efforts to promote action in the area of adaptation and reduction of
vulnerability in small island development states. Support to the Mauritius Strategy is vital.
Madam Chair,
Although different in many respects, the Arctic region and the small island development
states have many challenges in common pertaining to climate change. Reliance on economies
based on natural resources on land and at sea, transportation and communication challenges,
and coastal zones of great importance for the human and natural environment, has already
been mentioned.
In 2005 the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) concluded that the Arctic is expected
to feel the effects of climate change sooner and more severely than other regions of the earth.
It also emphasized the importance of changes in the Arctic climate to climate processes in the
rest of the world. The link between melting ice and rising sea water levels is one example.
The shared challenges and links between the Arctic and small island developing states
underscore the need for cooperation and transfer for knowledge between these regions. In this
regard, the Norwegian government has provided support for a project called ?Many Strong
Voices?. This is a collaborative effort where partners from the Arctic and small island
developing states cooperate in a five-year programme focused on adaptation and vulnerability
assessment. The ?Many Strong Voices? project draws on the existing experiences from the
ACIA work.
Norway aims through her chairmanship of the Arctic Council 2006-2009 at increasing the
knowledge of climate change effects in the Arctic. In cooperation with the other Arctic states
we want to develop effective adaptation strategies in order to reduce the negative impacts of
climate change in the Arctic. Experience from this region may be valuable for resource
management, capacity-building for research, data collection and analysis, risk assessments
and other strategies in other states or regions that are vulnerable to climate change such as the
small island developing states.
Madam Chair,
We need to provide increased levels of assistance to developing countries? adaptation to
climate change. Total donor funding for climate change adaptation projects through the
currently available multilateral mechanisms remains at very low levels, in the order of 180
million dollars, of which only some 84 million dollars have been collected.
The financing needs dwarf the budgets of multilateral institutions such as UNEP and the
Global Environmental Facility (GEF). We welcome the establishment of the Adaption Fund
under the UNFCCC. However, the financing gap calls for additional efforts, including new
and innovative financing mechanisms. Norway has initiated a discussion on the desirability
of pooling parts of the future revenue from solidarity levies on air travel to fund climate
change adaptation costs in developing countries. Norway hosted a roundtable discussion at an
international meeting in Oslo 6 February on this issue and will continue this discussion with
interested parties.
To conclude, my Delegation would like to echo what has been said about climate change and
the need to agree on a broad and ambitious poast-2012 framework. The CSD is not an arena
for climate change negotiations. However, it is our view that the CSD should make it clear
that climate change must be taken seriously. We believe that the efforts to tackle climate
change must be guided by the need to prevent the global mean temperature from increasing by
more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This will require radical changes in production and
consumption patterns, and reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions by around 50% by
2050.
And these reductions must start soon.
In order to steer developments in the right direction, the developed countries must take the
lead and a major share of the responsibility. But with reference to our ?common but
differentiated responsibilities?, it is important that the developing countries are also involved,
because it is in these countries that the future growth in emissions will take place. Norway
will fulfil its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, and is currently implementing measures
with this in view. Norway is also ready to take its share in a more ambitious agreement. At the
same time we are increasing our support for measures for adapting to climate change and
reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.
Thank you.
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