Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim to head climate consultations in Copenhagen

Together with Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Yaacob Ibrahim, Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim is to head consultations on trade, shipping and aviation during the climate negotiations in Copenhagen.

On Monday 14 December, COP15 President Connie Hedegaard proposed that ministers from some of the participating countries should be made responsible for consultations on selected issues. They have been asked to report by the end of Tuesday. The idea is to speed up progress towards a draft agreement that can be presented to heads of state and government later this week. Ms Hedegaard stressed that this must be an open process. Mr Solheim was one of the ministers appointed.

”I hope we will be able to make progress on these important issues. I don’t think we will solve all the problems, but we will listen to what the various countries have to say and provide input to the Danish Presidency. We must help Denmark with this process. Connie Hedegaard has the most difficult job in the world just now,” said Mr Solheim.

Mr Solheim is to head the consultations on how emissions from international shipping and aviation should be included in a new climate agreement.

” As a major shipping nation, Norway has played a leading role in these efforts. Emissions from these sectors are not regulated at present, partly because it is difficult to decide which country should be made responsible for the emissions,” explained Mr Solheim.

In addition, Mr Solheim is to lead the consultations on trade issues, particularly the question of sanctions in the form of trade restrictions on countries that do not meet their climate commitments. There are several references to trade in the negotiating text, which is why a common solution needs to be found.