By Li Han

Staff writer of the Tsinghua New Center

Ms. Helen BjФrnФy, Minister of Environment, Norway, delivered a speech at Tsinghua University on September 27.

Tsinghua Vice President Chen Jining had a talk with Ms. BjФrnФy prior to the speech, giving an outline of Tsinghua’s history and international cooperation and exchange. The two also exchanged ideas on environmental protection.

During her speech titled “Some big Issues of Our Time”, Ms.BjФrnФy talked about environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemicals hazardous to health and the environment.

“Environment is clearly one of the big issues,” said Ms. BjФrnФy, noting that it was an issue where people must work together to inspire not only thinking but also action.

“We need economic growth, but we also need a clean environment and natural resources,” said Ms.BjФrnФy.

After the speech, Ms. BjФrnФy answered several questions from the students. Academician Hao Jiming, Dean of the Research Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering, hosted the speech.

Ms. BjФrnФy later attended the agreement signing ceremony between Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, and Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA).

Ms. BjФrnФy obtained Degree in theology and ministry from Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology in 1980. She became the Minister of Environment in 2005.

（photo by Guo Haijun）