Telenor joins partnership to combat climate change

(3 January, 2008) Today, Telenor and 12 other major international companies based in Norway join forces in a new partnership with far-reaching ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The project, called Klima­Gevinst or "Climate benefit", will strive to make Norwegian businesses front runners in developing a low carbon community.
 
Terje Osmundsen, originator of the project, Åslaug Haga, Minister of Petroleum and Energy and Per Simonsen, Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy in Telenor.
 
"Telenor want to contribute to combat climate change and have therefore decided to join forces with KlimaGevinst. The shared outlook of partnering companies is that we all have ambitions and the means to make a difference, and we have defined climate as an area for strategic development. This is a knowledge-based collaboration, enabling the participating companies to contribute to meet climate challenges. Joint efforts across industries will help all involved parties to achieve results faster," says Per Simonsen, Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy.
 
13 initiating companies
KlimaGevinst involves 13 companies: Telenor, Det Norske Veritas, DnB Nor, Elkem, The Grieg Group, Hydro, NorgesGruppen, Scatec, Statkraft, TrygVesta, Veidekke, Veolia and Yara. These companies represent total earnings of NOK 450 bil­lion (approx. USD 83 bn). Through the project the companies will collaborate to develop the market for climate friendly products and services.
 
Ambitions of building a low carbon society
These are some of the ambitions the business leaders in KlimaGevinst wish to bring to the fore in 2008:
 
  • Significant energy savings with emissions of greenhouse gases reduced to a minimum
  • Norway as a major export country of renewable energy
  • Norwegian businesses globally recognized as the most climate friendly within their respective industries
  • The Clean Tech industry and related services as a major and expanding Norwegian export sector
  • Companies, residential buildings and infrastructure being less exposed to future climate change
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    Cooperating with a global network
    KlimaGevinst is initiated by the leading independent Scandinavian think-tank and pub­lication Mandag Morgen ("Monday Morning"), and will cooperate closely with Copen­hagen Climate Council, a global network of decision makers within business, science and public policy, also initiated by Mandag Morgen.
     
    The research and collaborative discussions will through 2008 focus on the following issues: Scenarios for the carbon markets, energy efficiency and conservation, renew­able energy, climate management, capture and reuse of climate gases and adaptation to climate change.
     
    Results and recommendations will be published in a report at the end of 2008.
     
    For more information, please contact:
    Ola Jo Tandre, Head of Information, Group Communications
    mobile: +47 951 74 579, e-mail: ola.jo.tandre@telenor.com