Erik Solheim

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

[IPE Global Limited @IPEGlobal]

#WCRS2026 | Eminent Speakers | Echoing the Voice of the Global South

Bringing global perspectives and leadership to the climate conversation.
Meet our eminent speakers at the 2nd World Climate Readiness Summit (WCRS) 2026:

Dr. @DeboraBarasa, Minister-cum-Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Government of Kenya
H.E. @ErikSolheim, Former Minister of Climate and the Environment of Norway and Former Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme.

Join us as we bring together voices from across the world to strengthen climate action, mobilise capital and build resilient communities, with the Global South at the centre of the conversation.

📅 28 October 2026
📍 C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi

Register now: https://t.co/o9oa2q8xyq

#WorldClimateReadinessSummit2026 #IPEGlobal #ClimateReadiness #ClimateAction #GlobalSouth #WCRS2026

@ashwajitipe I @ShilpiJain_2016 I @Abinash0294 I @ChintanResearch I @ClimateTrendsIN I @clim8collective I @MKPadmaKumar1 I @izabella_koz I @DrOusmaneNDIAYE

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Exciting sustainability partnership for Wine Industry!

It was amazing to attend ChiShui River Forum in Guizhou 🇨🇳 to focus on “interweaving harmony”. Under this slogan we discussed harmony with nature and harmony among humans. All with a view to wine culture.

MaoTai city at the ChiShui river is the home of the MaoTai liqueur , one of the most valuable brands in the world. The favorite drink of China.

It is wonderful to celebrate the transformation of the Chishui River, the mother river of the brewery. Once Chishui was very polluted, species went extinct. Now fishes are plenty and bigger, the river is clean close to drinking level. Chishui is a master class in ecological recovery.

The forum was also an opportunity to highlight the role of wine or baijiu in Chinese heritage. As wine is central to France or beer to Germany, baijiu is part of Chinese cultural history. Think of the Rhône valley without wine or Munich without beer, that’s Guizhou without MaoTai.

MaoTai is even important from the four crossings of the ChiShui river, a turning point in modern military history.

Wine experts from across the world attended. I spoke about the incredible environment progress of the Chishui river. Any wine is the product of the soil, the water and the grains and flowers of its home. We better take good care of it!

https://t.co/GuXzbjC8Eb

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

France 🇫🇷 is burning. It’s impossible to comprehend the thinking of the French political elite.

It’s so sad to see the destruction in my second home country - France.

Iconic buildings as the Limoges town hall and Lyon customs office set on fire. Owners of small shops fighting to defend their businesses.

The students movement has legitimate concerns and inspiring ideas - fighting decay in French schools and education system. Wanting a better future for a young generation.

Sadly criminals are using the youth as a shield for their plunder. Extremists are looking for something to attack.

What is most difficult to understand is the thinking of the French political elite:

* After many years of hardly any growth, there are no ideas to restore it. Without growth and with a huge public debt,  it’s impossible to manage demands from young people and the retired at the same time.

* Spending big on rearming France and on Ukraine. The main threat to Europe comes from within, not from outside. With massive military’s expenses - where can you find room for education and social sectors?

* Introducing necessary reforms like increased retirement age at a time when the French people is living much longer, but doing it in exactly the wrong way. When proposing reforms effecting ordinary folks, always reminding people that the political leaders are there for the elite and for the rich.

There is only one outcome of this. I am ready to make a big bet that the next president of France is Marine Le Pen.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

India has the largest untapped tourist potential in the world! Here is how to untap it!

The cultural attractions of India are second to none. Think of the temple cities like Varanasi and Madurai or the Buddha circuit in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

India is home to 75% of the world’s tigers. Add Asian lions in Gujarat, rhinos in Assam and elephants everywhere.

Where else can you get better and more spicy food?

The beauty of India - from the incredible Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan, from the rice paddies of Andhra to the backwaters of Kerala?

Still India receives a lot fewer tourists than other mega nations like the US or China. France is top on the lists - but it benefits from many tourists making short trips from neighboring nations.

Here is my Op Ed on what it will take to unleash Indias tourist potential. It will create millions of jobs. Green is gold!

https://t.co/CXf0LpTAPy

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Incredible India 🇮🇳!

The reverse waterfalls in Satara, Maharashtra.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Inspiring at Environment Think Tank Forum in Hangzhou.

I was honored to speak at a global forum of green think tanks hosted by Zhejiang University of Technology in the beautiful historic city of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou was the capital of China in the 1200 hundred, then by far the largest city in the world. It’s now wonderfully green and high tech with the West Lake at its center.

The discussion focused on the big environment ideas, and how think tanks can bring  intellectual leadership to the green movement.

I highlighted four big ideas:

* Green is gold. There is no longer a conflict between ecology and economy - a green development path is possible for the first time in history.

* People centered change. The green movement is not about technology, even if it improves by the day. It’s all about helping people having better life’s in an ecological civilization.

* Nature based solutions. Mother Earth itself solves many issues - but we can help her by creating national parks, planting trees, protecting the Ocean. The new ecology code of China provides inspiration.

* Win - win solutions. Hardly any global problem is zero sum. Environment, peace, economic development are all win wins. We need to work together to solve trade issues and find mutually beneficial solutions.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

The most modern Chinese rail stations look like opera houses in the West.

Look at this beauty!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Incredible India 🇮🇳

Meghalaya is one of the unexplored tourist spots in India.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Tens of thousands of participants at massive wind energy festival in Beijing. Here is my advise to the industry!

It’s amazing to have front seat to the global green revolution at China Wind Power.
We were welcomed by dancing humanitarian robots from Unitree Robotics. Robots will soon be employed by the industry, not least to avoid dangerous operations.

In the enormous exhibition hall companies from across China and the world showcase the latest ideas, high tech and products.

Numerous panels focus on tech solutions, integration with artificial intelligence, grid improvement, use of wind energy to develop green hydrogen and improvements in size, efficiency and price.

In my opening intervention I gave three pieces of advice to the industry:

* Make it people centered! For sure the technology will improve and drive change. But unless we put people front and center, we will fail. It’s of utmost importance to invite dialogue with local people and make sure that some of the windfall from the industry benefit locals.

* Fight bureaucracy! In most European nations it now takes much longer to get the permission to establish solar or wind parks, than to build them. This is slowing down the developments. The industry must flight bureaucracy and push faster permissions.

* Make it win - win. China has deployed more wind energy alone (640 gigawatt) than the total grid in all nations except China itself and the US. The six largest wind companies globally are all Chinese - Goldwind, MingYang, Envision Energy and more. We must aim at joint ventures between Chinese companies and companies from other locations. Disputes must be resolved through dialogue.

The wind industry was once small and additional - now it’s centre stage!!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Incredible India 🇮🇳!

India is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse architecture in the world.

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur (1799)

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Incredible India 🇮🇳.

Can a road be more cozy than this?

It’s Tamil Nadu.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Its exciting to attend the world’s largest Wind Energy event these days!

The progress of wind power in China is mind boggling!

China last year added 120 gigawatt of wind power to the grid. That’s as much as the entire grid in the UK or Australia or Turkey.

The total production has doubled last five years to 640 gigawatt. That is 20 times all hydropower in Norway.

The largest offshore wind blades are now 143 meters - one turn is covering an area of 310 meters (photo).

China Wind power in Beijing brings together the entire industry. Tens of thousands of participants. A huge exhibition showcasing the latest technological developments.

Ben Backwell and his brilliant team at Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) are cohosts. I was privileged to speak at the opening.

It is incredible to see how fast the green transition happens now!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Global “first” - China writes all comprehensive environment code.

I am very happy my article “China has written its environment Into Law”  is published for a global audience by illuminem.

This huge step by China can inspire other nations to make similar broad environment bills!

Illuminum is a most important content contributor, sharing inspiring global green stories to the world. It’s very rewarding following them!

https://t.co/qWWdYorATw

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

"These are the real top stars that we should follow!"

Many Chinese cities are recently putting scientists on big public screens instead of commercial ads.

In a time when science is under attack - how wonderful China inspires young people into science this way!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Inspiring US - China Green Energy Summit at Stanford.

There is no relationship more critical to the progress of humanity’s this century than the one between US 🇺🇸and China 🇨🇳!

I was privileged  to speak at the the 18th US-China Green Energy Summit.

Stanford University was the perfect venue, beautiful, green and charming -  among wonderful trees. I really wish I could start studying again…

Stanford hosts many Asian students and staff members who help bridge the divide across the Pacific.

China and California are front and center in the global green transition. I brought some global and European perspectives.

More academic contact, more mutual investments, a better political dialogue between the two giants will help us solve the climate and environment crisis together.

There is no zero sum game - only win wins!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Incredible India 🇮🇳!

This is Visakhapatnam - or Vizak for short

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Less finger wagging - more curiosity!

There is a group of intellectuals in the West who are desperate to find faults in China, India and other merging powers.

This brings us nowhere. Asia is not interested in western finger wagging.

Why not try a bit of curiosity?

My Op Ed in Dagsavisen: https://t.co/Fip3SmNHNj

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

Xiaomi’s dark factory.

Since the entire production line is run by robots, there is no need for light.

It is producing a smartphone every second.

It’s hard to compete with China 🇨🇳!

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

The Asian century - how shall Europe react to a dominant China and an emerging India.

It was inspiring to speak to and with an engaged crowd at International Centre for Sustainability (ICfS) at their wonderful premises in the City of London 🇬🇧.

I underlined that Europe must put aside arrogance and worry and approach the rise of India and China and the rest of Asia with curiosity and cooperation.

There is so much to be gained working together!

You can download my speech here: https://t.co/Uf0ds4KEqL.

[Erik Solheim @ErikSolheim]

300 million Solar Homes - please support this most important new initiative!

Global Solar Council (GSC) just launched a new spectacular initiative! The mission is to scale rooftop solar to 300 million systems by 2030, across homes, small businesses and community buildings.

This will double the number of solar homes globally. 

Australia 🇦🇺 just became the first nation to back the plan: https://t.co/gdAYQokjGv

300 Million Solar Homes aims to bring affordable, reliable electricity to people worldwide by accelerating rooftop solar.

The strategy is to unlock the policies, finance and action needed to scale household and rooftop solar to 300 million.

The initiative will:
 * Build global momentum for household solar
 * Support national leadership and smarter policies
 * Empower cities to lead the way
 * Unlock finance and grow local markets
 * Plan for a smarter, more connected energy  

Read more about the 300 million solar homes initiative:
https://t.co/KrUHrecVE5

Please join and support!