The Government of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative

The initiative was launched during the climate change negotiations at Bali in December 2007. A project group has been appointed in the Ministry of the Environment, and this works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries.

The initiative seeks to achieve cost-effective and verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD), and applies to all types of tropical forests.

Information folder on the Government of Norway´s International Climate and Forest Initiative (PDF)

Factsheet about the Government of Norway´s International Climate and Forest Initiative (PDF)

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On this page, we post reports, information documents and news clippings.

Tree roots in the indonisian rain forrest. Photo: Thoms Marent

The Government of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative

Go to this page for more information about the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative

What does the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative finance?

One of the main focus areas for Norway in the ongoing global efforts to reduce global warming, is the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) in developing countries. On this page you can read about how the Climate and Forest Initiative allocates the means that the Norwegian government has budgeted for international REDD efforts.

News from the government about the climate and forest initiative

Norway’s Stoltenberg initiates climate group on forests

[The Office of the Prime Minister, 22.12.2009]

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

Norway steps up Amazon contribution after proven results in reducing deforestation

[The Office of the Prime Minister, 16.12.2009]

“Our financing of the fund is resultsbased and given the reduction, we will increase our contribution to the Amazon Fund to USD 150 million for 2010. It’s very encouraging that deforestation continues to decline in the Amazon,” says Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Prime Minister Stoltenberg and President Obama: Per Thrana

Climate change and Afghanistan topics at Obama – Stoltenberg meeting

[The Office of the Prime Minister, 10.12.2009]

The need for a strong political climate agreement in Copenhagen and the military and civilian efforts in Afghanistan were important topics in today's talks in Oslo between Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and US President Barack Obama. Stoltenberg announced that Norway will increase its financial contribution to the Afghan National Army and Police to a total of USD 110 million for the period 2010 to 2014.

World Leaders Praise the Report of the Informal Working Group on Interim Finance for REDD+

[Ministry of the Environment, 20.11.2009]

At the invitation of HRH The Prince of Wales, world leaders met in London on November19, 2009, to profile the findings of the Informal Working Group on Interim Finance for REDD+ (IWG IFR), which has now released its findings ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit in December. Developing countries stated their willingness to enter into an interim REDD+ partnership, and developed countries their willingness to find the needed financing to support their actions. The report was also widely praised by global business leaders and heads of large international non-governmental organizations.

Guyana and Norway enter into partnership to protect Guyana’s tropical forests

[Ministry of the Environment, 09.11.2009]

President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana and Norway’s Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim today signed a Memorandum of Understanding declaring the two countries’ determination to work together to provide the world with a working example of how partnerships between developed and developing countries can save the world’s tropical forests.

REDD comes with risks but there is no other choice than to try

[Ministry of the Environment, 09.10.2009]

This week, the Guardian warned that a UN scheme to reward developing countries for protecting their forests in the name of carbon reductions – known as Redd (Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation) – could be "a recipe for corruption and will be hijacked by organised crime without safeguards".

”Climate agreement should include reduced deforestation”

[The Office of the Prime Minister, 23.09.2009]

At a meeting in New York on 23 September, heads of state and government from all over the world underlined the need for an agreement to reduce deforestation in developing countries.

Governance key to reduce emissions from deforestation

[Ministry of the Environment, 08.06.2009]

A new report on ecosystem services, climate and forest was launched on World Environment Day 5 June. Commissioned by the Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development, Erik Solheim, and carried out by the International Institute for Environment and Development, the Centre for International Forestry Research and the World Resources Institute, the report looks into how compensation for ecosystem services could contribute to Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD).

Agreement to save rainforests

[The Office of the Prime Minister, 01.04.2009]

“There is broad agreement that we swiftly and forcefully need to intensify the fight to save the world’s remaining tropical forests”, says Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg following a meeting with broad participation in London today.

Norway and Guyana cooperate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

[The Office of the Prime Minister, 03.02.2009]

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg met with Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo in Oslo today, to discuss climate change and forest issues. The two leaders agreed to establish a partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.

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