French Environment Minister: The Nordics are climate pioneers
The Nordic countries are inspiring examples and innovative climate pioneers, according to French environment minister Segolène Royal, one of the hosts of the UN climate negotiations at COP21 this December.
- Multilateral cooperation like the Nordic example we see here today is crucial if we are to reach an agreement at COP21. The Nordic countries are pioneers on the road to a climate neutral future and set a great example for the world, said Segolène Royal at a Nordic event at World Efficiency in Paris on October 13.
In the lead up to COP21, the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) participates at the World Efficiency conference in cooperation with the Nordic Embassies in France on a joint venture named Nordic Efficiency.
A total of 25 companies from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden present green technology under the heading "New Nordic Climate Solutions", the theme of the NCM activities culminating at COP21.
Nordic commitment to action
The Danish Energy Minister also spoke at the Nordic Efficiency event, representing the Danish chairmanship of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
- The Nordic countries will work hard for an ambitious agreement at COP21. We must take action now and we support the admirable French efforts to create a strong agenda of solutions, said Lars Christian Lillleholt at the event.
The main event at Nordic Efficiency, "Nordic climate solutions to emission reductions", focused on energy efficiency in particular, an area where the Nordic countries and many Nordic companies are global leaders.
- We must meet future energy demands in an intelligent way and I consider it a win-win situation, if we can share Nordic energy solutions with the rest of the world, Lilleholt added.
Sustainable building and holistic city planning
Two thirds of all climate emissions come from producing or consuming energy, and almost 40% of emissions is linked to housing and construction. So sustainable building and city planning is crucial if we are to create a carbon neutral future.
The NCM project Nordic Built Cities managed by Nordic Innovation is an attempt to address this challenge from a Nordic perspective. This was also the focus of one of the side events of Nordic Efficiency, focusing on sustainable construction the Nordic Way.
- We want to create smart, livable and sustainable cities, not just in the Nordic region.We also hope to help spread our ideas on holistic and inclusive city planning to the rest of the world, said project leader Kristina Mårtensson from Nordic Innovation, an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers
There are already plans for a Nordic Built house in e.g. China and with the Nordic Built Cities Challenge – a competition to create scalable export solutions for sustainable city planning – just being launched, many exciting projects are underway.
Finally, a side event on circular economy and bioeconomy looking towards a waste free future along with a workshop on financing for better energy efficiency rounded off the activities at Nordic Efficiency.
