Carnegie Institution of Washington

September 30, 2004

Contact—Dr. Jostein Mykletun, Science Councilor, Royal Norwegian Embassy. PHONE 202-944-8928 or 202-333-6000; email jostein.mykletun@mfa.no; Susanne Garvey, Director of External Affairs, Carnegie Institution PHONE, 202-929-1128; email sgarvey@pst.ciw.edu

For a list of speakers, registration, and other program details see

http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/norwegiancarnegieforum/

The Climate-Energy Challenge—a Transatlantic Approach

Washington, D.C. Top U.S., Canadian, and Norwegian scientists, policy makers, business leaders, and NGO representatives convene on October 4-5 in an effort to constructively tackle the twin challenge of climate change and sustainable energy production and use.

The causes of the changing global climate are the subject of an ongoing and necessary debate and will be taken further at these science and technology driven events. The well over 300 registered participants will focus on the key challenges of climate change and energy production and use worldwide. The press is invited to the two conference events, both jointly sponsored by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Carnegie Institution of Washington. They will be held at the Carnegie Institution, 16th and P Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. See http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/norwegiancarnegieforum/

“We need to understand how natural and man-made causes and processes interrelate in affecting climate change, and how the management of precious energy resources come into play in the shaping of fully informed policies. These events are intended to offer guidance in this important respect,” commented Knut Vollebaek, Norway’s Ambassador to the U.S. and forum chair. Norway is a major international energy player—it is the world's third largest exporter of oil—and it is pro-active in defining what is happening to our climate.

The various conference sessions over the two days probe issues such as how climate change and mitigation affect rich and poor countries differently, and how energy production and consumption can be sustainably achieved. Key witnesses at the recent climate hearings at the U. S. Senate earlier this year are also speakers at this conference.

“The Search for Life in the Solar System,” session on October 4th begins in the afternoon and presents results from a joint Norwegian-U.S. research project, the Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition (AMASE). The scientists examine the interplay among water, rocks, and life in Mars-like environments in volcanoes and hot springs on Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway. Their findings are shedding light on how systems in this extreme environment interact and affect one another, and they are being used to develop strategies and scientific instruments for future life-search missions to Mars. Leading Norwegian and Carnegie Institution scientists will speak.

For further information see http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/norwegiancarnegieforum/, or contact Dr. Jostein Mykletun, Science Counselor, Royal Norwegian Embassy by phone at 202-944-8928 or 202-333-6000, or by email jostein.mykletun@mfa.no, or Susanne Garvey by phone at 202-939-1128, or email sgarvey@pst.ciw.edu.

The conference is part of The Norwegian Research & Technology Forum in the U.S. and Canada, under the auspices of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in cooperation with the Carnegie Institution. The October 5th event is entitled “Meeting the Climate-Energy Challenge.” The program on October 4th is “The Search for Life in the Solar System.”

The Carnegie Institution of Washington (www.CarnegieInstitution.org) has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research since 1902. It is a private, nonprofit organization with six research departments throughout the U.S. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science.