His Excellency Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, led a UAE delegation in an official visit to the Kingdom of Norway, from April 22 to 23. The visit aimed to bolster bilateral relations and explore prospects of cooperation in sustainable energy and climate action. Her Excellency Fatima Al Mazrouei, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway, and His Excellency Olav Myklebust, Norway’s Ambassador to the UAE, took part in the visit.
H.E. Balalaa met with His Excellency Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, where the two sides discussed the outcomes of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), and the importance of cooperation to achieve the desired goals of the historic “UAE Consensus.”
H.E. Balalaa also met with Her Excellency Maria Varteressian, State Secretary for Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and His Excellency Hans Olaf Ibrekk, Special Envoy for Climate and Security of Norway. The meeting addressed several issues in the field of renewable energy and the importance of scientific research in fulfilling international obligations, in addition to programs, economic and trade partnerships between both countries.
The UAE delegation has also paid a visit to the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, which specializes in research, climate affairs, AI, and space engineering. The delegation also visited the Norwegian Polar Institute affiliated with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, where they reviewed the Kingdom of Norway’s policy in combatting climate change in the North and South Pole, repercussions of emissions, and the Institute’s research outcomes.
