Norway, the largest donor to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has placed all funding agreements on hold pending a budget review on 12 May, causing concern among member states and NGOs. The move introduces significant uncertainty for the already troubled plastic treaty negotiations overseen by UNEP, which have failed to reach an agreement after six rounds of talks since 2022.
Norway contributes approximately $12 million annually to UNEP's environment fund, plus additional funds to the Planetary Fund and earmarked projects. The review also affects a funding call for projects to combat plastic pollution in developing countries, valued at £4-6 million per year. Christina Dixon of the Environmental Investigation Agency warned that any funding risk could not come at a worse time for the negotiations.
Norway co-leads the high-ambition coalition at the plastic treaty talks with Rwanda, advocating for a legally binding instrument covering the full life cycle of plastics. This contrasts with a group of petrostates blocking caps on plastic production. The talks have been in disarray since the chair resigned last year, with a new chair elected and negotiations expected to resume in early 2027.
Karen Landmark of GRID-Arendal expressed concern that the funding reappraisal could lower ambition among other countries. Norway's reassessment comes amid domestic debate over climate spending, with the minority Labour government relying on other parties to pass budgets. Critics, including the Norwegian Green party, have called the potential cut a scandal given Norway's oil production contributes to plastic pollution.
