Erik Solheim

Green politician. Diplomat. Peace negotiater. Adviser to green business. Inspirational speaker on environment and development, peace and geopolitics..

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

From drought to water abundance in India 🇮🇳

Dholakia Foundation supported by the government of Gujarat, has built 180 dams and lakes in Amreli district. They have widened and deepened the riverbeds.

This brings new life to local farmers and help save the endangered Asian lion.

Great for people, wonderful for Mother Earth:

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

China now manufactures 89% of the world’s solar panels, 70% of wind turbines, 83% of the world’s batteries and 75% of the electric vehicles.

It’s time for the rest of the world to get up early in the morning and compete!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Himachal Pradesh 🇮🇳 shows how climate action is a powerful engine for rural prosperity.

During my inspiring visit to the Himalayas I had the pleasure of meeting Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Senior Officials in Shimla. What impressed me most was the state`s determination to make climate action work for its people.

Protecting the Himalayas while creating new income opportunities for farmers is exactly the kind of leadership we need.

The HIM EVERGREEN Project, inaugurated this week, will support more than 150,000 smallholder farmers to adopt boundary plantations and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Over the coming decades, the project has the potential to generate more than USD 60 million in additional income for farming communities through ProClime, South Asias lead carbon company.

Another exciting initiative is the development of an indigenous biochar programme that will convert around 9,000 tonnes of pine needles per year into biochar, bio-oil and wood vinegar.

Forests floors covered by pine needles is one of the major causes of devastating forest fires in the region. The project is being implemented through a partnership between local communities, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and ProClime. It will create high-integrity carbon credits. It’s turning a problem into an opportunity.

Congratulations to my friend Kavin Kumar Kandasamy and the entire ProClime team for helping turn this vision into reality. I look forward to seeing these projects scale across India and beyond.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Exciting to explore green opportunities in Bangladesh 🇧🇩.

It was wonderful to meet the new government in Bangladesh and discuss their plans for leadership on climate and environment.

Bangladesh sees huge opportunities in going solar. There is a shortage of land, but roof top solar and agri voltaic can provide a lot of green energy.

There may be opportunities for hydro power in the big rivers and for an energy partnership with Nepal on hydro.

The government has promised to plant 250 million trees. Add mangrove restorations and environmental friendly farming.

We had good discussions with Minister of Environment Abdul Amal Mintoo and foreign minister Khalilur Rahman, with state Energy Minister Anindya Islam Amit as well with Finance Advisor Humaiun Kobir, Capital Advisor Tanvir Ghani and Special Advisor to Prime Minister Saimum Parvez

I went with my friend and partner Kavin Kumar Kandasamy
the CEO of ProClime, South Asias lead carbon company. ProClime aims to support Bangladesh to bring carbon credits for natural farming, afforestation, mangrove rehabilitation and biochar.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Inspiring Dhaka discussion with President of the General Assembly - who aims to save multilateralism.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman just took office as foreign minister of Bangladesh🇧🇩. Immediately after he was elected president of the General Assembly of the UN. He is a most respected diplomat with long and impressive experience from global affairs.

We had an exciting exchange of views. The new government will take a Bangladesh first approach - prioritizing friendly relations to India, China, the West and everyone else. It will not pick sides but look for opportunities for the people of Bangladesh in close relations with foreign partners.

We discussed how Bangladesh can become a leader in the green transition. The nation has huge potential for solar energy and for mobilizing carbon credits to restore mangroves and in natural farming. The prime minister has already committed to massive tree planting.

Dr Rahman will take lead of the United Nations at time when the UN is at its lowest ebb in history. UN is sidelined on most issues, the staff is dispirited and the leadership uninspiring. It’s great to see that a decent leader as dr Rahman will steer the UN through a challenging time. The most important will be the election of a new Secretary General who can turn around the organization. Mulitilateralism is more important than

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Inspiring Dhaka discussion with President of the General Assembly who aims to save multilateralism.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman just took office as foreign minister of Bangladesh🇧🇩. Immediately after he was elected president of the General Assembly of the UN. He is a most respected diplomat with long and impressive experience from global affairs.

We had an exciting exchange of views. The new government will take a Bangladesh first approach - prioritizing friendly relations to India, China, the West and everyone else. It will not pick sides but look for opportunities for the people of Bangladesh in close relations with foreign partners.

We discussed how Bangladesh can become a leader in the green transition. The nation has huge potential for solar energy and for mobilizing carbon credits to restore mangroves and in natural farming. The prime minister has already committed to massive tree planting.

Dr Rahman will take lead of the United Nations at time when the UN is at its lowest ebb in history. UN is sidelined on most issues, the staff is dispirited and the leadership uninspiring. It’s great to see that a decent leader as dr Rahman will steer the UN through a challenging time. The most important will be the election of a new Secretary General who can turn around the organization. Mulitilateralism is more important than ever. Dr Rahman can help save it.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

50 years in the service of the poor - big congrats to Muhammad Yunus.

It was electrifying to attend Yunus Social Business Day in Dhaka 🇧🇩 and take part in two remarkable celebrations. It is 50 years since Yunus founded Grameen Bank and 20 years since he received the Nobel Peace prize.

The wonderful story was retold: A young professor Muhammad Yunus at the Chittagong university saw the suffering during the horrible Bengal famine. in Jobra village he gave a small personal loan to local women. It led to the creation of the microfinance model now used worldwide. Shame on our university knowledge, if we cannot stop people dying, Yunus thought.

Today Grameen Bank has 2500 branches, 40 000 staff and 10 million customers. Grameen shows that a bank can serve the poor, not only those who dont need loans.

Yunus is inspiring us all - dedicated to a 3 ZERO world: Zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.

We heard wonderful testimonies from people who’s life had been transformed by Grameen. As one said - you cannot get more happiness than touching other people’s life in a postitive way.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Brilliant eco-bridge in Shenzhen 🇨🇳.

The Kunpeng Trail No.1 Bridge crosses a highway and connects two mountains, letting local animals travel safely and find food. The bridge is covered in native plants to give animals a natural habitat!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

What can we learn from how China 🇨🇳 defeated poverty?

The first time I came to China nearly all Chinese were poor. There were no cars, no skyscrapers, people were wearing the most boring of clothes and they were not eating well. China was 180 at the ranking of economies on per capita basis.

China is now of course the most modern country in the world. Extreme poverty is abolished. China has become indispensable to the green transformation.

How did this happen?

I was privileged to speak at the 2026 think tank forum on national governance in developing countries at the Central Party School in Beijing, a highly prestigious institution. We had a great exchange of views on the role of political parties in national rejuvenation. Practioners and experts from Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia added weight to the conversation.

I highlighted 4 lessons from the rise of China:

* Political leadership dedicated to go the last mile to eradicate poverty
* Family based farming - not collective, industrial or feudal
* Special Economic Zones focusing industries in competitive regions
* Green is gold - going green is not a constraint to the economy but a huge opportunity for jobs and prosperity

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

I am happy to join the Advisory Board of Nordic Baltic Institute in Türkiye 🇹🇷

The Nordic Baltic Institute is an Istanbul based, independent, non-profit organization.

It will work to strengthen cooperation between Türkiye and the Nordic-Baltic region through dialogue, research, networking, and cross-sector collaboration.

I am looking forward to interaction with fellow board members - impressive leaders from Türkiye and from the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Warm congratulations to CEO Esra Öztürk PhD with the initiative!

More info: https://t.co/CIWKc1Aery

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Please watch! This is simply wonderful!

China 🇨🇳 bringing every citizen out of extreme poverty.

India 🇮🇳 bringing hundreds of millions into a better life!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Great night with Zendure at Intersolar Munich.

Zendure is a company which position itself as the The Home Energy Hub of the AI Era

It is a global pioneer of Home Energy Management Systems. This is an ecosystem that connects solar panels, battery storage, charging for the electric car and smart home appliances into an easy to install control unit. Why make it complicated, when it can be made simple and reliable?

Zendure will Empower Every Household Worldwide with the Ultimate Freedom of Energy Control.

We had a wonderful night in Munich where I spoke about the green transition and Zendure and partners presented smart solutions. Great food and exciting lotteries!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

President Lula reads the text to western leaders.

At the recent G7 meeting President Lula of Brazil 🇧🇷 made an extraordinary departure from protocol. He spoke truth to western leaders in one of the best speeches I can recall.

Stop complaining about Chinese competition and join China in investing in the development of the Global South, Lula told them.

- It is difficult for me to take part in this debate because we are caught between two worlds. We find ourselves in a world where highly developed nations are preoccupied with China’s growth and competitiveness. Meanwhile, on the other side, another part of the world is waiting for anyone willing to step forward as trade and investment partners, Lula began.

- The hundreds of millions of people in Latin America, in Africa, in India who want to enjoy an “average standard of consumption”are a gigantic market waiting out there for you. Investing in their development will benefit the economy of the United States, Europe, and so many other countries, he said.

- There is no point in sitting around this table complaining about China. We have to move away from this individual perspective and look at global imbalances as a whole. When are we going to turn 900 million Africans into consumers?

Full speech here: https://t.co/jNm3WE8DA7

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

How awesome to receive Sri Sri in Norway 🇳🇴!

I had a most amazing day yesterday going to the Norwegian parliament with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar .

Sri Sri shared his thoughts on loneliness and mental stress for a generation facing new challenges from social media and more.

Even at the the day of Norways great victory in football World Cup, so many turned out to welcome Sri Sri and to listen to him.

At a packed meeting in Gamle Logen he and I discussed peacemaking and the role of India in a new world order. We agreed that wars are irrational, they hardly ever achieve the stated purpose. Just look to the US - Iran war.

The need of our time is to look for compromises at all levels - in the family and the local community, in national affairs and between nations. A comprise is not something boring or weak, it’s the glue which keeps societies together. Compromise is the act of the strong and the wise!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Sustainable solutions are are becoming the most competitive and secure business choices.

This message is clear from the 2026 WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development Barometer released today.

This is the real-time pulse check from 500+ leading businesses. It tells a two-part story: 92% expect sustainability to be source of a competitive advantage. 89% have maintained or increased climate investment. Yet 68% believe a disorderly transition is becoming more likely.

Businesses are scaling clean energy, electrification, circularity and regenerative agriculture because they are the most cost competitive, secure and resilient options available. But climate impacts, policy volatility and geopolitical fragmentation are intensifying and increasing business costs .

Businesses are calling for stronger, stable, coordinated policy to reduce the future risks of supply-chain disruption, energy cost volatility and increased costs to consumers.

Business Breakthrough Barometer released today: https://t.co/oJGSgI1Uas

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

How brilliant rejuvenation of rivers transforms rural Gujarat 🇮🇳.

Amreli district in Gujarat untill very recently was a desolate place. The rivers were silted and dead. It was very dry. Young people left for Surat and other cities.

Then something incredible happened - the miracle of water. Dholakia Foundation, supported by the government of Gujarat, built 180 dams and lakes. They widened and deepened the riverbeds. Water is back - big time. The monsoon starts this week.

With water farmers who depended on one crop, can have two or three. Fruits like mango grow everywhere. Trees are planted across Amreli. With forests deer and wild pigs return. And with access to prey lions start inhabiting the region, outside the national park. This is the endangered Asian lion, so the increase in lion numbers matters a lot.

Congrats with great work in Amreli. Please connect to Dholakia Foundation for inspiration if you wish to replicate elsewhere.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Seeing the world through an Indian 🇮🇳 lens.

It was wonderful to speak at the one year anniversary of Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) in Delhi. A huge crowd of thought leaders, business executives, politicians, activists and ambassadors turned out.

It’s only a year since Chintan was born, but it has grown at high speed turning of reports and research papers, writing op eds and convening dialogues on geopolitics, environment, trade and more.

At a time when India is destined to play a defining role in global affairs, there is a need for a thinktank which looks to the huge shifts in technology, green transformation and geopolitics with an Indian lens, with the lens of the Global South.

Over the last two centuries western ideas dominated the global discourse. This is about to change. Chintan is right at the center, building the intellectual infrastructure of Bharat at a time of earth shaking change.

It was an honor to share the scene with Pranav Adani and Shashi Tharoor. Big congrats to Shishir Priyadarshi for extraordinary achievements during the first year of Chintan.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

How exciting to visit the world’s largest renewable plant - in Gujarat, India 🇮🇳.

2 years back I went to Khavda. At the time the enormous reneawble plant built in the salty desert was in its early days. There were about 30 windmills, now there are more than 400. There were a few solar panels, now there are solar panels to the horizon, like an ocean of solar energy. Today 8 gigawatt of solar and 2 gigawatt of wind energy is developed. By 2030 Khavda will host 30 gigawatt. The largest in the world!!!

To compare - that is as much energy as all Norwegian hydropower combined. It’s also 1,5 times the grid in Bangladesh or 5 times the functioning grid in Nigeria.

Even more extraordinary the worlds largest battery is now under construction. It’s already 3,3 gigawatt hours. It will be 14 at the end of this year, the aim is 50.

The battery is already the largest in the world outside China. In a few months time it will be the largest anywhere.

Incredibly the battery was established in ten months. Hats off to Adani Group for its extraordinary ability to execute projects on time and with dicipline. This is Adani-speed!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Wonderful day watching green developments in Vadodara 🇮🇳.

So much is happening in urban India. Yesterday I spent the day touring Vadodara to observe amazing developments.

The Vishwamitri River has caused a lot of pain to the city through regular floods. Now flooding will be controlled by building of dams and lakes. 48 kilometer of river front will be brought back to old splendor - with beautiful plants and varied fauna. In city center the riverbank willl be developed with playgrounds, cafes and vendors shops - certain to be loved by the people. There are even crocodiles in Vishwamitri and a sanctuary will be established.

Added this city of four million in Gujarat is going electric and renewable with 32 megawatt of renewable energy and spectacular “solar trees”. 250 electric city buses and 10 hydrogen buses are ordered.

Local authorities work very hard to make the city cleaner.

Vadodara is a historic city, known as Baroda. The aim is to inscribe the palace and many historical monuments on UNESCO world heritage list and draw more tourists.

Congrats to the good people of Vadodara and my friend city commisioner Arun Mahesh Babu M.S.,IAS for brilliant work!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

I am truly honored to be selected as a 2026 International Green Development Impact Leader!

At a ceremony in Shanghai 🇨🇳, The International Fund for China's Environment (IFCE) recognized leaders they believe have contributed to advance the international green development cause.

They selected candidates who have made contributions to climate change mitigation efforts, made breakthrough achievements in research, development and promotion of green technologies or have played a role in promoting international cooperation and exchange on green development.

I was very privileged to be selected by the jury. It’s an honor to be part of a group of very distinguished environment leaders!

Warm thanks!

https://t.co/aAXxFQ1Nx1