"Norway would like to present the candidature of Mr. Boerge Brende, whom I consider to be eminently qualified for the post," Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg wrote in a letter to UN chief Kofi Annan.

Brende, 40, served as Norway's environment minister from 2001 to 2004 and as the minister of trade and industry from 2004 to 2005 for the previous center-right coalition government, which was replaced by Stoltenberg's left-leaning government in October.

"I believe Mr. Brende's experience as minister of the environment and his extensive international network in the fields of environment, industry and business are an excellent match for the criteria you set out for the position," Stoltenberg wrote.

The UNEP is currently headed up by former German environment minister Klaus Toepfer, whose mandate is set to expire next month.

Created in 1972, the UNEP is charged with coordinating UN activities in the environmental field, helping countries implement environmentally friendly policies and promoting sustainable development.

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