13 May 2016: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the US have released a joint statement pledging enhanced cooperation on climate, energy and the Arctic, as well as on economic growth and global development.

The statement follows the US-Nordic leaders’ Summit held in Washington, DC, US, on 13 May 2016 and builds on the outcomes of the US-Nordic leaders’ meeting convened in Stockholm, Sweden, on 4 September 2013, when the countries pledged to deepen their collaboration on a range of issues, including climate change, clean energy and the Arctic.

In the statement, the US and the Nordic leaders commit to “join and implement” the Paris Agreement, accelerate the transition to clean energy, enhance adaptation efforts in developing countries, protect and restore forests, and “continue to take science-based steps to protect the Arctic and its peoples.”

On climate change, the countries commit to ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible, with Norway, Iceland and the US pledging to join in 2016. The US and the Nordic countries express their commitment to: assist developing countries with their mitigation and adaptation efforts, including by coordinating support for adaptation planning and action in the National Adaptation Plans Global Network; and lead on climate finance. Recognizing the potential for the effects of climate change to exacerbate conflict and fragility in vulnerable countries, the countries also commit to better integrating compound risks stemming from climate fragility into development policies and assistance programmes.

The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement on 12 December 2015. The Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting for at least 55% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. The Paris Agreement has been ratified by 16 Parties to date.

On clean energy, the US and Nordic countries pledge to spearhead the efforts to develop cleaner energy systems and technologies for cleaner energy production, renewable energy and increased energy efficiency, and to collaborate to increase the deployment of offshore wind. They commit to advocate for the mobilization of private capital to finance the transition to clean energy as well as climate investments.

On the Arctic, the countries affirm their commitment to safeguarding the region’s environment while “providing enhanced opportunities for sustainable development for all inhabitants of the Arctic, including indigenous peoples.” Highlighting the importance of maintaining the Arctic region in accordance with the principles of international law, including those reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), leaders commit to manage the region with an ecosystem-based approach (EbA), and to “work towards the highest global standards, best international practice and a precautionary approach when considering new and existing commercial activities in the Arctic, including oil and gas operations.” They further pledge to work on shared priorities within the Arctic Council – the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation among the Arctic States, the region’s indigenous communities and other inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular sustainable development and environmental protection.

The leaders also intend to cooperate on, inter alia: enhancing climate action through international fora, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; combating methane emissions; restoration and protection of forests; and promoting energy for all consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including through the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative, Power Africa and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). [US-Nordic Countries’ Joint Statement 2016] [White House Press Release] [US-Nordic Countries’ Joint Statement 2013] [IUCN Press Release] [Arctic Council Website] [Paris Agreement Ratifications Webpage]