Norway
CSD 14
Statement by the Norwegian Delegation
State Secretary Anita Utseth, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Addressing energy, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate
change in an integrated manner, focusing on inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues.
Friday 5th May 2006
Mr. Chair,
During this week we have discussed constraints and barriers for advancing
implementation across the interlinked issues of energy for sustainable development,
industrial development and air pollution and climate change.
We have exchanged experiences and shared examples of measures that work and
reflected on those that don?t work. We know the facts, we know what the barriers are, we
have the technology, and business is ready to contribute. We need to break through the
public neglect of the importance of energy services to human development.
It is clear that energy services have an impact on all of the Millennium Development
Goals. I would like to focus on two issues: the interlinkage between energy and health
and between energy and gender.
On health.
According to WHO the impact of indoor air pollution on morbidity and premature deaths
of women and children is the number one public health issue in many developing
countries. Every year, indoor air pollution from cooking with solid fuels is responsible
for 1, 5 million deaths.
Practical solutions to the indoor smoke problem exist. Liquefied petroleum gas, biogas
and other cleaner fuels represent healthy alternatives. Switching from a traditional stove
to an improved stove substantially reduces indoor smoke. We welcome initiatives such as
the PCIA by the US and others, including Germany's GTZ and the WHO.
On gender
Women and girls spend several hours? pr. day gathering firewood, fetching water and
cooking. Many girls are withdrawn from school to attend to domestic chores. This has
lifelong effects on their literacy and economic opportunities.
Improved household energy practices promote education, empower women and save the
lives of children and their mothers. Household fuel policy is often fragmented and not
seen as an integral part of energy. Gender and health aspects should be taken into account
at an early stage in energy planning to meet the needs of women and children and other
disadvantaged groups.
Mr. Chair,
Providing access to the poor to modern energy services for normal household use will
have little impact on the global environment. Even if all 2 billion people that are without
access to modern energy services today shift to LPG for household fuel, it would add less
than 2 per cent to global green house gas emissions from fossil fuels.
As expressed by Professor Jeff Sachs, we can?t solve the carbon crisis on the back of the
poor. This problem rests with the developed world. Carbon capture and storage is
important. A number of countries, producers and consumers, are working together to
develop viable CCS technologies. Norway will continue her efforts in this field.
Energy is a priority area for Norwegian development cooperation and we are now scaling
up our efforts. Last year Norway launched the Oil for Development Initiative. A similar
initiative is now under way for the power sector focusing on renewable energy. This also
includes support to multilateral programs and initiatives promoting energy for
development.
Finally Mr. Chair, I would like to add that we are developing an action plan on how
gender can be more effectively integrated into our development cooperation.
Thank you!
Statement by the Norwegian Delegation
State Secretary Anita Utseth, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Addressing energy, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate
change in an integrated manner, focusing on inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues.
Friday 5th May 2006
Mr. Chair,
During this week we have discussed constraints and barriers for advancing
implementation across the interlinked issues of energy for sustainable development,
industrial development and air pollution and climate change.
We have exchanged experiences and shared examples of measures that work and
reflected on those that don?t work. We know the facts, we know what the barriers are, we
have the technology, and business is ready to contribute. We need to break through the
public neglect of the importance of energy services to human development.
It is clear that energy services have an impact on all of the Millennium Development
Goals. I would like to focus on two issues: the interlinkage between energy and health
and between energy and gender.
On health.
According to WHO the impact of indoor air pollution on morbidity and premature deaths
of women and children is the number one public health issue in many developing
countries. Every year, indoor air pollution from cooking with solid fuels is responsible
for 1, 5 million deaths.
Practical solutions to the indoor smoke problem exist. Liquefied petroleum gas, biogas
and other cleaner fuels represent healthy alternatives. Switching from a traditional stove
to an improved stove substantially reduces indoor smoke. We welcome initiatives such as
the PCIA by the US and others, including Germany's GTZ and the WHO.
On gender
Women and girls spend several hours? pr. day gathering firewood, fetching water and
cooking. Many girls are withdrawn from school to attend to domestic chores. This has
lifelong effects on their literacy and economic opportunities.
Improved household energy practices promote education, empower women and save the
lives of children and their mothers. Household fuel policy is often fragmented and not
seen as an integral part of energy. Gender and health aspects should be taken into account
at an early stage in energy planning to meet the needs of women and children and other
disadvantaged groups.
Mr. Chair,
Providing access to the poor to modern energy services for normal household use will
have little impact on the global environment. Even if all 2 billion people that are without
access to modern energy services today shift to LPG for household fuel, it would add less
than 2 per cent to global green house gas emissions from fossil fuels.
As expressed by Professor Jeff Sachs, we can?t solve the carbon crisis on the back of the
poor. This problem rests with the developed world. Carbon capture and storage is
important. A number of countries, producers and consumers, are working together to
develop viable CCS technologies. Norway will continue her efforts in this field.
Energy is a priority area for Norwegian development cooperation and we are now scaling
up our efforts. Last year Norway launched the Oil for Development Initiative. A similar
initiative is now under way for the power sector focusing on renewable energy. This also
includes support to multilateral programs and initiatives promoting energy for
development.
Finally Mr. Chair, I would like to add that we are developing an action plan on how
gender can be more effectively integrated into our development cooperation.
Thank you!
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