Vice President and Head of Iran’s Department of Environment Meets Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment
on the Sidelines of UNEA‑7
On the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA‑7), Dr. Shina Ansari, Vice President and Head of Iran’s Department of Environment, met with Mr. Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the fields of environment, plastic pollution control, technology transfer, and capacity‑building. Minister Eriksen expressed appreciation for the coordination of the meeting and noted the significant potential for collaboration between the two countries. He highlighted ongoing negotiations on a global agreement to combat plastic pollution as a key area of cooperation, stressing that while countries may adopt different approaches, the agreement could provide a common framework for future action. He also shared Norway’s experiences in waste management and emphasized the importance of addressing the full life cycle of plastics.
Dr. Ansari thanked the Norwegian Minister for his remarks and explained that the Islamic Republic of Iran has adopted important legislation on plastic pollution and waste management, with a strong focus on reducing single‑use plastics. She underlined that environmental issues encompass economic, social, and ecological dimensions, all of which must be considered in policymaking. Dr. Ansari emphasized Iran’s commitment to accelerating waste management efforts through both preventive and incentive mechanisms, while noting that achieving tangible results requires time and collective action at regional and international levels. She expressed interest in benefiting from Norway’s expertise in recycling industries, waste processing, and the design of incentive mechanisms adapted to Iran’s cultural and social context. She also welcomed cooperation in addressing pollution from the oil and gas industry.
Minister Eriksen reiterated Norway’s view that the global plastic pollution agreement should cover the entire plastic value chain, while allowing each country to pursue its own regulatory approach. He expressed optimism that the negotiations would lead to meaningful progress and clarified that Norway’s goal is not to eliminate plastics entirely, but to promote more sustainable use, including recycling and reducing single‑use plastics. He noted that Norway consumes around 100,000 kilograms of plastic annually, much of it imported and single‑use, and explained that the country is working to transition toward reusable alternatives.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Ansari emphasized that environmental issues should not be politicized and stressed the importance of engaging the private sector in environmental protection. Minister Eriksen reaffirmed Norway’s support for capacity‑building and technology transfer and expressed his country’s readiness to continue dialogue aimed at achieving consensus in the intergovernmental negotiations on the global plastic pollution agreement.