Norway, Tanzania Fight Climate Change Together

April 23, 2008 1:19 p.m. EST

Oslo, Norway (AHN)-Tanzania and Norway, which have forged a letter of intent, are addressing the challenges of climate change as partners. The Norwegian government has extended a grant worth US$100 million (500 million kroner) to the African country to tackle deforestation.

Tanzania has one of the fastest rates of deforestation in Africa, which adversely contributes to climate change. "Deforestation represents around 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions," Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.

The agreement between the two countries was signed by Tanzanian Minister of State, Vice President Office, Environment Dr Batilda Burian and his Norwegian counterpart, Erik Solheim.

The partnership would focus on reducing deforestation, developing technologies for measuring carbon sequestration, as well as promoting research and capacity building programs related to climate change challenges. It will also promote public private partnerships to enhance investments in sustainable management of forestry resources.

According to Stoltenberg, the partnership is an offshoot of the Bali conference of the Parties (COP) for the Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) held in December last year. Among the goals of the conference is the Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Land Degradation (REDD) agenda. The international panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that about 20 per cent of all global emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere come from the industries.