Secretary General ahead of COP29: We need more holistic thinking

It was a breakthrough when the decision of the Conference of the Parties that emerged at the end of COP28 included wording about phasing out fossil fuels.

In terms of climate negotiations, it represented a victory that places responsibility on the individual countries. The Nordic Region may well have wanted to see an even more ambitious agreement and even more clear-cut wording, but there is now no doubt that fossil fuels are a thing of the past. The text is a welcome step in the right direction, but a sustainable future will only be possible if the fine words are backed by deeds.

The Nordic Region has a history of climate initiatives we would like to share with the rest of the world, e.g. carbon taxes and heavy investment in renewable energy and technology. But we, too, still have a relatively long way to go before fossil fuels are phased out completely. 

The work needs to continue to be targeted and effective, and scientific recommendations must be followed if we are to create a fossil-free society. Nor is it just a matter of emissions having economic consequences. We also need to meet Nordic and European ambitions and limit global warming to 1.5° Celsius as per the goal of the Paris Agreement.

Nordic co-operation has set a high bar. Our vision is to make the Nordic Region the most integrated and sustainable region in the world by 2030. It is big, it is ambitious and it calls for co-operation and concrete initiatives:

At COP28, 130 nations agreed to triple green energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. These are clear and important signals, both politically and to the business community and investors. 

The transition from fossil fuels to renewables requires political will, funding and long-term investment in energy sources and infrastructure. 

It will also provide excellent opportunities for the Nordic nations to work even more closely together on innovation and the financing of new, green technology, a process in which the working relations between official agencies, investors and the business community will play an important role. 

The Nordic investment banks are expanding their green and smart finance initiatives, and our institutions and programmes are helping to accelerate the growth of sustainable and green technology. 

COP28 resulted in a decision to set up a new fund to help vulnerable developing nations cope with climate-related damage and losses. Several of the Nordic countries committed to donating to the new fund. Financial assistance to the most vulnerable countries is an important signal of solidarity and justice. 

Climate change is also making its mark in the Nordic Region. Nordic co-operation is looking at how to make our countries more resilient by working together on climate adaptation, exchanging data in smart ways, leveraging digital solutions and improving our infrastructure. 

We are also in the process of drawing up initiatives for the next few years to solve multiple and simultaneous challenges. Concepts such as the triple planetary crisis— biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution—require more holistic thinking and less of a silo mindset. It will definitely not be easy, but our new six-year co-operation programme will try to take policy boundaries into account when tackling these issues.

At COP28, we presented new agendas and launched a series of initiatives to step up the pace of climate adaptation. For example, it is important to get together with global leaders and experts to highlight the importance of sustainable and healthy food systems for climate change. 

It is no longer possible to keep to the 1.5° limit without major changes in food production and diets. COP28 succeeded in putting food on the agenda for future climate summits. Leaders from 134 nations signed a declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action. It was an important first step, but the goal is still far off, and the Nordic Region is intent on taking the lead all the way.

Our conclusion is that when it comes to climate change, we need to think ambitiously, broadly and in a way that cuts across sectors. We must adopt a perspective that transcends sectors in order to integrate sustainability into everything we do in Nordic co-operation. This will require dialogue, long-term work and a commitment to remaining a global pioneer.

Note: The article has been translated from Danish to English.