Norway’s International Climate and Environmental Efforts

1. Why is international cooperation necessary?  

Environmental and climate problems cross borders. Emissions to air, soil and water, loss of nature, and the spread of hazardous substances affect areas far beyond where the emissions occur. International agreements enable fair distribution of costs and responsibilities and ensure that countries commit to measures that might otherwise be deprioritized.

2. How agreements are developed  

Many agreements are negotiated within the UN framework. The process typically begins when several countries request a negotiation mandate (for example from the UN Environment Assembly under UNEP, from UNESCO, or from regional UN bodies). An open-ended negotiating committee then works to develop a draft agreement. Civil society organizations may participate as observers. The agreement takes effect once it has been ratified by a sufficient number of countries.

In Norway, the Ministry of Climate and Environment is responsible for negotiating, implementing and following up climate and environmental agreements, in cooperation with other ministries, directorates and other agencies under the ministry, businesses and civil society organizations.  

3. Overview of key climate and environmental agreements  

3.1  The Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement  

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in 1992, aims to prevent dangerous human-caused climate change. It requires countries to report emissions and places greater responsibility on industrialized countries than on developing countries. The convention itself does not include quantified national emission reduction targets.

The Paris Agreement (2015) aims to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It is legally binding for all parties and obliges countries to:

• submit and regularly update national climate targets (NDCs) every five years, with increasing ambition
• implement measures for emission reductions and climate adaptation
• strengthen climate finance for developing countries  

3.2 The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Biodiversity Framework  

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 1992, has three objectives: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in 2022, aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss through global targets and measures that must be implemented rapidly to allow nature to recover.

3.3 UN Convention to Combat Desertification  

Adopted in 1994, this convention focuses on combating land degradation and drought. It promotes sustainable land use, restoration of degraded land, and greater local participation.

3.4 Pollution, chemicals and waste  

• Basel Convention: Regulates transboundary transport and treatment of hazardous waste and some other waste types.
• Minamata Convention on Mercury: Limits mercury mining, regulates its use in products and processes, and sets rules for disposal. Norway was one of the initiators.
• Montreal Protocol: Regulates ozone-depleting substances and, through the Kigali Amendment, HFC gases (potent greenhouse gases).
• Rotterdam Convention: Regulates trade in certain hazardous chemicals and gives countries the right to refuse import.
• Stockholm Convention: Prohibits or regulates more than 30 persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Norway has proposed the ban of several substances under this convention.

3.5 The Aarhus Convention  

The Aarhus Convention grants rights to environmental information and participation in decisions, plans, programs, and legislation affecting the environment. It also provides access to complaints procedures and courts in environmental matters. Environmental defenders who exercise these rights must not be punished, persecuted or harassed. Individuals and organizations may appeal to a dedicated committee or special rapporteur if they believe parties fail to uphold their rights.

4. How international climate negotiations work  

Countries that are parties to the Climate Convention/Paris Agreement meet annually to negotiate rules, targets and follow-up. These meetings are called COP – Conference of the Parties.

Each country submits a national plan with measures and targets for emission reductions (NDCs). New or updated targets must be submitted every five years, with increased ambition over time.

Every five years, parties assess global progress on emission reductions, adaptation and finance in a Global Stocktake. The first full stocktake was completed in 2023.

5. How international nature negotiations work

Countries that are parties to the CBD meet every two years to negotiate rules, targets and follow-up to achieve the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The agreement includes an implementation system. Each country must submit updated national biodiversity action plans and national contributions. A global analysis of these plans is conducted at every COP. Countries must submit national reports in 2026 and 2029. Global stocktakes will take place in 2026 and 2030.

6. Negotiations on a global agreement to combat plastic pollution  

In 2022, the UN Environment Assembly mandated negotiations for a global agreement to combat plastic pollution and marine litter. Six major negotiation sessions have been held.

Norway emphasizes that the agreement must include rules covering the entire plastic life cycle: production, use, waste collection, recycling or disposal, and the use of recycled plastics as raw materials. The agreement must also restrict or ban products with high risk of environmental leakage or harm.

Key difficult issues include rules for plastic production, harmful plastic products, support for developing countries, and whether decisions may be taken by vote if consensus fails.

7. Cooperation and partnerships  

• Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs): Norway works to reduce methane, black carbon, HFCs and ground-level ozone through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Arctic Council.
• Article 6 cooperation (carbon markets): Norway develops cooperative mechanisms enabling real and lasting emission reductions in developing countries. Read more about Norway's Article 6 cooperation at www.noger.no.
• Global chemicals framework (2023): A new global framework for chemicals, waste and pollution brings together countries, UN bodies, industry and civil society to ensure safe handling of chemicals and phase out hazardous substances.
• Bilateral environmental cooperation: Norway has agreements with China, India and South Africa on nature, climate, plastics, hazardous substances and oceans.
• Trade and responsible business: Norway works to ensure that WTO rules and free trade agreements promote green growth and that Norwegian companies follow OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles.

8. Environment in the UN

Several of the agreements above are grounded in the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP facilitates negotiations and supports implementation—currently playing a key role in the plastic pollution negotiations.

Established in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference, UNEP is the UN’s leading environmental body and an important partner for Norway. UNEP plays a central role in developing international norms and scientific knowledge, supporting bodies such as the IPCC, IPBES, and the new panel on chemicals, waste and pollution.

UNEP also promotes the environmental dimension of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrates climate and environmental considerations across the UN system.