Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

Agenda 2030: Two Years In

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway spoke at Kapuscinski Development Lecture in New York City on sustainable development and Agenda 2030.

Thursday 27.09.2018

This lecture formed part of the 6th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development took place in Alfred Lerner Hall on September 26th and 27th, 2018, with additional side events on the 26th and 28th. The Crown Prince explored the history of human advancement, and the effects, both positive and negative, it has had on humans and the environment. He called on participants to remember that humans are part of nature and that we need to weigh our choices carefully, because “taking care of the environment is taking care of ourselves.” H.R.H. reinvigorated commitment to the SDGs, stating that he is “not tired of talking about them,” and left the audience inspired and hopeful by presenting some solutions to clean up the oceans such as plastic harvesting in the Pacific garbage patch. In the Q&A that followed with Professor Sachs, H.R.H. explained his deep personal connection to the ocean, where he spent a great deal of his childhood and is now working to build the same memories with his own children. The Crown Prince took time to remind us of how far we have come and that achieving sustainable development is sooner than we think.

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His Royal Highness has a broad national and international engagement. Youth leadership and global development are issues particularly close to his heart. Since 2003, Crown Prince Haakon has been Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP – today focusing in particular on the Sustainable Development Goals. He is co-founder of Global Dignity, and is actively engaged in The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s Humanitarian Fund. The fund identifies and supports projects for young people at risk and aims to strengthen youth leadership. As heir to the Norwegian throne, the Crown Prince has an extensive number of official engagements in Norway, and is patron of various associations. Every year, he is leading Norwegian delegations abroad to strengthen bilateral relations within trade and industry, science, and humanitarian fields. He has also represented Norway in the UN. Over several years, the Crown Prince has had a special interest in development issues, in particular the role of technology and how innovation can contribute to move the world forward. Crown Prince Haakon graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s in Development Studies from the London School of Economics. The Crown Prince is a passionate surfer, kiter, and music lover. He lives in Asker, outside Oslo, with the Crown Princess and their children.

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