Rapid climate gains should be better exploited
The Nordic countries must guarantee a survey of how a reduction in a number of damaging climate substances can be achieved more quickly, says the Nordic Council. The Council also wants to explore the possibility of developing a formal collaboration between countries with high emissions reductions, as a complement to the UN negotiations.
Short-lived climate agents such as soot and methane gasses contribute heavily to climate change. We know that these emissions can be minimised, but need to know more about how it can be achieved.
Therefore, the Nordic countries should take the lead in this survey and, not least, ensure a transfer of knowledge and technology in this field to the non-industrialized countries.
This is the core of a proposal from the Nordic Council's Environment Committee to the Nordic Council of Ministers, presented at the Council's meeting on 21 September.
The Environment Committee also proposes to set up a forum of countries which can take the lead in efforts to reduce climate emissions. The goal of this regional forum would be to set a good example by ensuring the implementation of effective climate initiatives and thereby indirectly exert pressure in the UN negotiations.
The Council also wants the climate challenge to receive greater political attention, and therefore calls on the Nordic heads of state, foreign and finance ministers to have climate issues as a standing item on their agenda at their joint meetings.
Finally, the Environmental Committee will present a proposal at the Nordic Council Session in Copenhagen on 1 - 3 November to set up an international fund aimed at mobilising more resources to improve technology development on climate change.
Contacts
Michael Funch
Phone
+45 33960332
Email
mifu@norden.org
Tryggvi Felixson
Phone
+45 3396 0453
Email
tfe@norden.org
