The Norwegian Embassy hosted on June 5 and 6 events to celebrate World Environment Day 2007.
6/19/2007 :: "Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?"
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. This year, Norway has been selected to host the international celebrations of World Environment Day, which will take place in the arctic city of Tromsø on June 4-5, 2007. Tromsø, a city with a living polar history, has the world's northernmost university and the Norwegian Polar Institute, both of which are key players in the international polar research arena.
In support of the International Polar Year, World Environment Day 2007 will focus on the effects that climate change has on polar ecosystems and communities, and the ensuing consequences around the world. The day aims to give environmental issues a human face; empower people to become agents of sustainable development; promote an understanding that communities are critical to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate public-private partnerships, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
On June 5, the Norwegian Embassy and National Geographic Society (NGS) hosts a conference at the NGS Headquarter in Washington, D.C. The conference will present panels on political aspects, Arctic science and conservation, sustainable energy and technological solutions to global warming. The conference will present the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report Global Outlook for Ice & Snow, a new analysis of the changes in ice- and snow-covered regions and the consequences for the global community.
The "Melting Ice - A Hot Topic" Conference features:
- U.S. polar explorer and environmentalist Will Steger; recently returned from the expedition "Global Warming 101" in Arctic Canada.
- Norwegian polar explorer and educator Liv Arnesen.
- Terry D. Garcia, Executive Vice President, National Geographic Society, Bill Mansfield, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, UNEP, and H.E. Knut Vollebaek, Ambassador of Norway.
- Panels on political and technological solutions to climate change.
- National Geographic will show scenes from the new film "Ice Bear” from Svalbard in Arctic Norway, documenting how animals in the Arctic regions are affected by global warming.
Detailed and updated program here.
The seminar is open to the public. Please register by email rsvp.emb.washington@mfa.no
On June 6, the embassy and Innovation Norway will host a seminar on tourism in Arctic Norway at the Norwegian Embassy Chancery, followed by a reception - “An Ice Breaking Event” - at the ambassador’s residence. The workshop and reception on June 6 is by invitation only.
Royal Norwegian Embassy, Washington D.C.