Norway and UNEP sign $10 Million Programme Cooperation Agreement

On the margins of COP21, Mr. Steiner met with Børge Brende at the Norwegian Embassy in Paris to sign the agreement and discuss the process of negotiations at the climate conference. 

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UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (R) and Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende after signing the cooperation agreement between UNEP and Norway

Paris, 6 December, 2015 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner and Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende today signed a Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) that will see Norway provide financial support to UNEP worth over $10 million.

On the margins of COP21, Mr. Steiner met with Børge Brende at the Norwegian Embassy in Paris to sign the agreement and discuss the process of negotiations at the climate conference.

Mr. Steiner said, "Norway has traditionally been very generous in their support of UNEP's work, and we greatly appreciate this most recent contribution. Links continue to be made between environmental degradation, including climate change, and worsening humanitarian crises and poverty around the world. This funding comes at an important time to support research into and practical action for solutions to these pressing challenges."

The new PCA provides 90 million krone (US$10.5 million) worth of funding to UNEP's programme of work, including direct support to UNEP's Poverty Environment Initiative and environmental crime research, critical components of UNEP's work.

Climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable on the planet. The UNEP-UNDP Poverty Environment Initiative is designed to mainstream poverty-environment objectives into national development and sub-national development planning.

Reporting and analysis by UNEP has shown global environmental crime is worth up to US$213 billion each year and is helping finance criminal, militia and terrorist groups, threatening the security and sustainable development of many nations.

The PCAs between Norway and UNEP have been cornerstones of cooperation for many years. Norway's continued flexible contributions are a vital financial pillar of support for UNEP initiatives to promote a healthy planet for all peoples.