OTTAWA, June 1, 2015 — Member of the media are invited to attend a keynote address by Kristen Halvorsen, former Norwegian finance minister and current director of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research Oslo (CICERO). Ms. Halvorsen will draw on her experience to discuss how imposing a high carbon tax on oil producers need not harm oil production, but can increase the competitiveness of the oil and gas industry by encouraging clean innovation.
WHAT: Keynote address by former Norwegian finance minister and current CICERO director
WHEN: Wednesday, June 3, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: University of Ottawa, Desmarais Building, Room 12102 (55 Laurier Avenue East | map)
As a major oil-producing, developed, northern nation, Norway has experience with reconciling oil and sustainability that is highly relevant for Canada — and especially oil producing provinces.
The Norwegian experience also shows that putting public oil revenues into a future trust fund has many benefits, including providing economic stability, reducing currency inflation and sharing this one-time wealth with future generations.
Ms. Halvorsen will reflect on how the management of heritage funds can be improved to support climate friendly investments, a subject of current debate in Norway.
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About the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Organized by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Congress is the largest interdisciplinary conference in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. Now in its 84th year, Congress brings together 70+ academic associations that represent a rich spectrum of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, including literature, history, theatre, film studies, education, music, sociology, geography, social work and many others. Congress 2015 is hosted by the University of Ottawa. For more information, visit www.congress2015.ca.
About the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences promotes research, learning and an understanding of the contributions made by the humanities and the social sciences towards a free and democratic society. Established in 1940, with a membership now comprising 160+ universities, colleges and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 85,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada. The Federation organizes Canada’s largest academic gathering, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together more than 8,000 participants each year. For more information, visit www.ideas-idees.ca.
About the University of Ottawa—A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. For more information, visit www.uOttawa.ca.
Media inquiries
Nicola Katz
Communications Manager
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Cell: 613-282-3489
nkatz@ideas-idees.ca
Danika Gagnon
Media Relations Officer
University of Ottawa
Office: 613-562-5800 ext. 2981
Cell: 613-863-7221
danika.gagnon@uOttawa.ca