History

The Norwegian Climate Foundation was formally launched on 18 March 2010. Supreme Court barrister Pål W. Lorentzen initiated the foundation. It immediately received strong support from businesses, research institutions, organisations and public authorities.

– The Norwegian Climate Foundation will work to ensure that the right climate-friendly industrial products are developed and adopted. The pace must increase, as the outlook for the global climate is not encouraging, said chair Pål W. Lorentzen at the foundation’s launch.

The start-up was funded by Visjon Vest, Sparebanken Vest’s charitable arm. Sparebanken Vest, the Nansen Centre, Fritt Ord and the Bishop of Bjørgvin were the four founders.

Helga Flesche Kleiven, Martin Smith-Sivertsen, Arvid Nøttvedt and Pål W. Lorentzen made up the foundation’s board. The foundation also established an advisory council comprising 16 supporters from business, research, organisations and public authorities. Assistant Director Hans Roar Sørheim at Christian Michelsen Research was responsible for the secretariat and administrative management.

In January 2011, Anders Bjartnes took up the position of Managing Director. Bjartnes has extensive experience in the press, including at VG and Dagens Næringsliv. He joined from his position as editor of Recharge magazine. An up-to-date overview of the Foundation’s administration is available here.

In 2011, the Norwegian Climate Foundation launched the online newspaper Energi og Klima. An overview of its other projects is available on this page.