Nordic/Baltic Regional Office
for Environment, Science, Technology & Health
Regional Environmental Office (REO)
U.S. Embassy Copenhagen
Denmark
Nordic/Baltic Regional Office
for Environment, Science, Technology & Health
Internationalt samarbejde omkring
miljøforhold og undervisning
REO - Copenhagen
Silke Alsen
Odense Katedralskolen
September 26, 2005
The REO
• Established in 1998
• Funded by U.S. Department of State
• Environment, Science, Technology, and Health
(EST&H) Issues
• Staff: 1 diplomat & 1 program assistant
• One of 12 regional EST&H Hubs worldwide
REO Region
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Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Iceland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Poland
NW Russia
Sweden
Northern Germany
Why the REO?
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Issues are transboundary, global
Coordinate U.S. EST&H activity regionally
Build U.S. EST&H capacity in region
Report back on EST&H from the region
The Enhanced Partnership Initiative for
Northern Europe (ePINE)
• 2003 initiative to replace Northern Europe
Initiative (NEI)
• Continue to build on success with Baltic States
• Extend Baltic States model of cooperation to
neighboring countries (Ukraine, Belarus)
• Parallels EU’s “Northern Dimension”
ePINE Pillars
• Cooperative Security: defense cooperation,
counter-terrorism, trafficking in persons, etc.
• Vibrant Economies*: business, trade, investment
promotion
• Healthy* Societies: environment*, good
governance, transparency*, social inclusion
* REO involvement
REO Regional Role
• Information resource for regional U.S. missions (web site,
newsletter, research)
• Help identify regional issues where U.S. might play
facilitating role
• Provide (limited) funding for programs
• Facilitate communication with USG agencies
• Assist in implementing programs and organizing meetings
and conferences
• Provide U.S. experts/expertise (speaker programs)
REO Issue Areas
Environment
• Invasive Species
• Climate change
• Biodiversity
• Sustainable
development
• Pollutants
Energy
• Alternative energy
• Energy efficiency
Science & Technology
• Bilateral S&T
agreements
• Science cooperation
• Science fellowships
Health
• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Avian Flue
• Telemedicine
REO Funding Sources
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Operating budget from Dept. of State
Grants from Bureau of Oceans, Environment
& Science (US Dept. of State)
US Public Affairs Sections and programs
Earlier REO Activities
• Expand Long Term Ecological Research Network
(LTER)
• Fund The Access Initiative (TAI) in Baltics &
Poland
• Strengthen U.S. Science &Technology ties with
Baltic Sea States, e.g. Denmark – continuing
• Scientist exchanges / Organize speaker tours
• Strengthen GLOBE program – continuing
Current REO Activities
• Bring speakers (e.g. Integrated Coastal Zone
management - ICZM)
• Assist Nordic/Baltic Network on Invasive
Species (NOBANIS)
• Support regional efforts on oil spill and
maritime safety
• Outreach to Greenland
• Promote GLOBE program / GLOBE Europe
Greenland Agreement – Cooperation
• August 2004: Signature – USA, GL, DK
• Embassy-wide effort: Econ/Pol, Tourism,
Environment, Science, Education
• REO: Support Greenlandic environm. cooperation
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Assist on integrating Greenland in the GLOBE community –
now and in the future !
FWS/NPS met with Greenlandic environmental authorities
on Arctic Nature Park Management
GL Environmental officer on study tour through US
Telemedicine – speakers and seminars, ....
REO & GLOBE / GLOBE Europe
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Focus: Nordic / Baltic Region
Speak up for GLOBE on its specific regional needs
Agreement: US – Denmark.. and Greenlandic position?
Involvement of Russian communities (Estonia)
Intermediary - when needed (Latvia)
German ASA program: Baltic States + third world
students´ exchange (www.asa-programm.de)
• Recent fund for GLOBE Europe
• Support networking, contacts
GLOBE in the Baltic Sea Region
• Estonia: (46 schools)
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GLOBE Games, attract new GLOBE schools, GLOBE
Sciece Days, GLOBE Alumnis, Russian Communities
• Latvia: (12)
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GLOBE learning expedition, small scale activities – work
more effectively, attracting new schools
• Lithuania: (20)
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Train-the-Trainer Workshop, attracting new schools,
scientists integration, GLOBE summer camp
• Germany: (250)
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Change of HQ to Kiel, Teachers Trainings, annual meetings,
GIS, ..
• Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland
Objectives: Denmark / Greenland
• Keyword: Internationalization of Danish
education
• Update Greenland status in current agreement
• Cooperation with local scientists (e.g. GIS
efforts, International Polar Year - Arctic)
• Support schools´ exchange with GLOBE in the
whole region
• Connection: European Environmental Agency
Har I nu spørgsmål til mig?
REO Contact Information
Lori Peterson Dando, Counselor
Silke Alsen, Program Assistant
Nanna Nyholm, Program Assistant (1.1.06)
U.S. Embassy Copenhagen
Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Telephone: [45] 3341 7294
Fax: [45] 35 42 70 94
reo@usembassy.dk