Document Abstract
Published:
2009
Climate, conflict and capital: Norwegian development policy adapting to change
Norwegian Government White Paper focusing on climate change, conflict and capital
This paper examines development opportunities in countries that are suffering from climate change and violent conflicts. The paper particularly focuses on fighting poverty and controlling capital flows, in light of the Norwegian development policy.
The paper makes the following findings:
The paper makes the following findings:
- developing countries must make their own choices and set their own priorities regarding the development of social services, democracy and policies for promoting employment and economic growth
- environmental policy in both rich and poor countries must be linked to an economic policy that promotes employment and growth in income and production
- it is primarily the rich part of the world that must shoulder responsibility for climate change and address its impacts by demonstrating that climate-friendly economic growth is possible
- emission cuts at home and effective support for economic growth in poor countries will together provide the foundation for a global climate policy that includes all the countries of the world
- projects under Norwegian "Climate and Forest Initiative" must promote sustainable use and conservation of tropical forests
- they must also improve the living conditions of indigenous peoples and safeguard their rights, protect biodiversity, and reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases
- developing countries must be given greater access to global capital, better opportunities for value creation, and more control over their own economic resources
- it is important to combat illicit financial flows from developing countries; the fight against tax havens will be a key element in these efforts
- establishing a system of annual reporting on the coherence between Norway’s domestic and development policy is also recommended.
