Ministers from the Nordic countries have confirmed their commitment to reach an "ambitious, global and legally binding agreement" on climate change in a declaration signed at the annual Nordic Council's session in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The climate and environment ministers signed the declaration a month before the climate talks in Paris, France, where the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC is expected to adopt a universal climate change agreement.
28 October 2015: Ministers from the Nordic countries have confirmed their commitment to reach an “ambitious, global and legally binding agreement” on climate change in a declaration signed at the annual Nordic Council’s session in Reykjavik, Iceland. The climate and environment ministers signed the declaration a month before the climate talks in Paris, France, where the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC is expected to adopt a universal climate change agreement.
In the declaration, the ministers call for action to keep global average temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, voicing support for a global, long-term emissions reduction goal based on science. They add that such a goal will help give certainty to investors and guide future action. Among the key actions highlighted in the statement are investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate-friendly infrastructure.
The ministers point to the Nordic experience in mitigating climate change without sacrificing economic growth, highlighting the positive impacts climate action can have on economic performance, investment, innovation, job growth, health and energy security. Calling for a price on carbon and the phase-out of fossil-fuel subsidies, the declaration supports the use of financial mechanisms and highlights that Nordic countries have pledged more than US$1 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The declaration also underscores the particular challenges of the Arctic, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and its implications worldwide for sea-level rise. It notes that temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice as fast as the world average. The ministers express further concern over feedback processes emanating from the region, such as methane release due to thawing permafrost and the changing reflection of solar radiation due to sea ice melting.
The Nordic Council of Ministers for the Environment met on 28 October 2015, in conjunction with the Nordic Council Session held from 27-29 October 2015. [Norden Press Release] [Nordic Climate- and Environment Ministers Declaration of Climate Change]