Inspiring Alumni | 11
I was an exchange student at Keele University in 2008 , studying International Relations and Environmental Politics , as a part of my degree in Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen in Norway . I later did my Master of Political Science at the University of Oslo .
Shortly after finishing my studies , I started working as Communications Officer for the City Administration in Oslo , later joining the Norwegian Environment Agency where I started working on national policy development , as well as affairs concerning the European Economic Area ( EEA ). After a while , I was also included in the team working on multilateral environmental agreements .
In 2020 I had gained experience from national and regional policy development including in the EU , EEA and Nordic Council of Ministers , as well as global multilateralism ( Basel Convention , Minamata Convention ) – all assignments within my position in the Norwegian Environment Agency .
In late 2020 , I was posted as a SNE – Seconded National Expert – at the European Commission ( DG Environment ) and its multilateral team for the environment , to support the global process towards a new legally binding instrument on plastic pollution and EU ’ s global efforts on the circular economy .
During the past 5-10 years in particular , growing political attention on plastic pollution has led to multiple actions from governments , industry , civil society , foundations , businesses etc . Many countries are banning , phasing out or reducing the production and consumption of single-use plastics , but despite multiple efforts and policies being implemented , it is expected that plastics entering our oceans will quadruple within 2040 .
In spring 2022 , diplomacy played a key role in reaching an agreement to launch negotiations on a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution at the meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi . The mandate includes the setup of an intergovernmental negotiating committee that aims to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by 2024 , based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life-cycle of plastics from product design to waste . was the first of five meetings in which UN Member States will draft a new treaty text ; with the aim of ending plastic pollution . In these meetings , negotiators representing UN Member States meet and try to agree on what such an agreement should do , what kind of provision it should include , what the objectives and potential targets should be , how efforts needed should be financed and so on .
I was posted in the Commission to support this process . My role as part of the EU team is to prepare positions together with Commission colleagues and Presidency , consult with Member States and do outreach . We speak with experts , scientists , NGOs , industry and businesses – and based on this , prepare our priorities and positions for the new instrument . It is indeed a complicated and interesting process of preparations . EU , as an ambitious region and a pioneer on circular economy , should set high ambitions , but also make sure that we maintain our important cooperation with other key players globally such as China , India , Japan and the US . Although we all may agree that plastic pollution must come to an end , the global superpowers have different perspectives on how to get there .
LOOKING BACK AT KEELE
I recall the time I had at Keele , learning about the many aspects of environmental politics . From activism to global deals , how the dynamics work . One of the first things we were assigned in our class was to prepare a letter to the Government with the view of making them stop the expansion of Heathrow airport . Now , many years later , I often think back on how these in some way opened my eyes to the many dimensions of environmental politics . And I still have my books !
Meanwhile , the field of environment and climate has also changed much since I left Keele . Many major multilateral environmental agreements ( i . e . Paris ) have been established , policies are more developed and integrated . However , the “ starting point ” at Keele was a good kickoff for me and I am thankful for the time I spent there as an exchange student . It gave me the first touches of how to integrate in an environment with different cultures , nationalities and perspectives – and it gave me many new friends who I am still in touch with .
The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Uruguay , 28 November - 2 December 2022 ,
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