Erik Solheim is a well-known global leader on
environment and development as well as an experienced
peace negotiator.
He served as Norwegian minister of Environment and
International Development from 2005-2012. During that
period, he initiated the global program for conservation
of rainforests and brought through game changing
national legislation - among them the Biodiversity Act
and legislation to protect Oslo city forests. He brought
Norwegian development assistance to 1%, the highest in
the world. Before joining government, he was leader of
the Socialist Left Party 1987-97 as well as member of
Norwegian Parliament 1989-2001.
He led the peace efforts in Sri Lanka from 1999-2009 as the main negotiator of the peace process
between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers and played a vital role in peace processes in
Nepal, Myanmar, Sudan and Burundi.
Erik was the Executive Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (the main body of world
donors) from 2012-2016 and Undersecretary General of the UN and Executive Director of UN
Environment from 2016 to 2018.
Currently he is President of Europe - Asia Center in Brussels.
He is International Vice President of the Belt and Road Green Development Coalition in Beijing and
member of China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development.
Erik served as the International Environment Adviser to Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former President of
Sri Lanka, and is also a member of the Climate Council established by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in Tamil
Nadu, India.
Erik is the Chairman of the Development Roundtable at the Green Hydrogen Organization, President of
the International Advisory Board – GH2 India, Adviser to the Global Wind Energy Council, and a Board
Member of the International Hydropower Association.
In business Erik is adviser to the RGE of Indonesia, the world largest paper and pulp company. He is also
adviser to Key Carbon, a London based carbon credit provider. Erik works closely, on a non-profit basis,
with ProClime, a climate company in Chennai, India.
Erik is Ambassador for the Center of Oneness in Omkareshwar India, celebrating the Hindu reformer and
Saint Adi Shankaracharya
He is Chief Mentor of Global Alliance for Sustainable Planet, Chairman of the Board of Afroz Shah
Foundation in Mumbai, mentor for the Zero Plastic Movement in Sri Lanka and mentor to the Smart
Campuis Cloud Network in Pune, India.
He is Honorary President of the China - Norway International cooperation Center in Yantai, chair of
Kubuqi Desert Forum in Inner Mongolia and member of the board of Guiyang Eco Forum, all in China.
He is vice chair of International Finance Forum in Nansha, China. Erik is vicechair of Peking University
Institute of Carbon Neutrality.
Erik is fellow at the International Centre for Sustainability in London, UK which specialize in Indian -
European relations. He is on the advisory board of Global Carbon Council in Doha, Qatar.
Erik is honorary professor at Tsinghua University (Beijing), Jiaotong University (Shanghai), Fudan
University (Shanghai), Chengdu University, Southeast University (Nanjing) and Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology, Guangzhou. He is also honorary professor at the Kalinga Institute in
Bhubuneswar, India and environment adviser to Sri Sri University in Bhubuneswar. He received an
honorary professor appointment from Teri University, Delhi.
Awards:
• Chinese Government Friendship Award, 2024
• Appreciation letter from Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of 75 years of India
independence, 2022
• Champion of the World, United Nations,
• Lifelong member of Friends of the Earth, Norway
• European of the Year, Norway
• Hero of the Environment, Time magazine