Climate for the People
Annika Olsen, Minister of the Interior, Faroe Islands
About this archive
This page preserves remarks originally published on climate.fo ahead of the COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen (2009). Annika Olsen served as the Faroese Minister of the Interior and contributed to the national dialogue on climate action. Climate.fo was a Faroese government initiative promoting climate awareness.
Original Statement (Faroese)
Tað eru tvær kreppur, ið hótta heimin í dag. Tann eina er fíggjarkreppan, og hin er veðurlagsbroytingarnar. Vit skulu seta okkum sum mál at loysa báðar, tí við miðvísum og skynsomum politikki kann veðurlagsavbjóðingin nýtast sum eitt amboð til at koma burtur úr fíggjarkreppuni.
Framburðurin í samfelagnum skal vera tengdur at varandi orkukeldum, har gransking og menning er ein náttúrligur partur. Við at gera íløgur í viðvarandi orkukeldur t.e. vindorku, vatnorku, sjóvarfalsorku, sólorku og alduorku kunnu vit gera okkum óheft av oljuni, ið bæði er ein fíggjarlig og umhvørvisslig hóttan móti heiminum.
Tað er neyðugt, at Føroyar eru ein virkin viðspælari í altjóða veðurlagsspurninginum. Vit skulu taka ábyrgd og traðka inn á altjóða pallin og vísa, at vit eru við og eru sinnað at taka okkara lut í arbeiðinum til tess at tálma útlátið av veðurlagsgassum.
Ferðavinnan, fiskivinnan og vinnan yvirhøvur fær ágóðar av, at Føroyar taka virknan lut í altjóða veðurlagsspurninginum, og tí skulu vit taka veðurlagsspurningin sum ein gyltan møguleika at føra Føroyar á fremstu rók, har grønur vakstrarpolitikkur er drívmegin.
English Summary
In her 2009 remarks ahead of COP15, Minister Annika Olsen identified two crises threatening the world: the financial crisis and climate change. She argued that with sensible policy, addressing climate change could serve as a tool for economic recovery.
Olsen advocated for societal progress tied to sustainable energy sources, including wind, hydro, tidal, solar, and wave power. She emphasized that investing in renewable energy would free the Faroe Islands from dependence on oil—both a financial and environmental threat.
She stressed the necessity of the Faroe Islands being an active participant in international climate discussions, taking responsibility and demonstrating commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While demanding, meeting such commitments could also serve as a valuable opportunity to market the Faroe Islands internationally.
Tourism, fisheries, and industry would all benefit from active Faroese participation in global climate efforts. Olsen concluded that the climate question should be seen as a golden opportunity to position the Faroe Islands at the forefront, where green growth policy drives progress.
About Annika Olsen
Annika Olsen served as the Faroese Minister of the Interior (landsstýriskvinna í innlendismálum) in the government of the Faroe Islands. During her tenure, she was an advocate for sustainable development and renewable energy transition in the North Atlantic archipelago.
These remarks were part of a broader Faroese government initiative called "Íkast til kjak" (Join the Conversation), which brought together political leaders, scientists, and public figures to discuss the Faroe Islands' role in addressing climate change ahead of the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP15).
Historical Context: COP15
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen was a pivotal moment in international climate negotiations. World leaders gathered with the aim of establishing a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. While the conference did not produce a binding treaty, it resulted in the Copenhagen Accord and set the stage for future agreements including the Paris Agreement in 2015.