Growth and sustainable development can go hand in hand
Sari Multala, Minister for Climate and the Environment (Finland), Romina Pourmokhtari, Minister for Climate and the Environment (Sweden), Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Minister for Climate and Environment (Norway), and Margit Stórá, Minister of Environment (Faroe Islands) have discussed their views on the upcoming COP30 negotiations. In addition, they invited dialogue with stakeholders from the research community, civil society, and the business community. The aim of the discussions was to determine how the Nordic Region can best contribute to ensuring that COP30 becomes a green success.
The Nordic Region can be both green and competitive
Finland, which holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, opened the meeting and was clear in its message:
“Growth and sustainable development can go hand in hand,” said Sari Multala, Finland’s Minister for Climate and the Environment. The Swedish minister shared this view. They pointed out the importance of communicating this message clearly to counter narratives from countries that don’t wish to pursue the green transition:
“The Nordic countries must demonstrate to the world that you don’t go bankrupt by choosing a green path – quite the opposite,” said Romina Pourmokhtari, Sweden’s Minister for Climate and the Environment.
We need to pick up the pace
“We need to bridge the gap between the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and where we are today,” said Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Norway’s Minister for Climate and the Environment. The minister pointed to the importance of adjusting funding frameworks so solutions can be established more quickly. There was a general recognition among the ministers that the Nordic Region – and the rest of the world – isn’t where it needs to be in relation to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Progress is too slow when it comes to developing, funding, and implementing sustainable measures.
Protect and respect the rights of indigenous peoples
On behalf of Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard, the Head of Department at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Christian Stenberg, stressed the need for adaptation to sustainable development. In this context, Denmark highlighted the importance of protecting and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples.
The oceans – a green perspective on a blue economy
Margit Stórá, Minister of Environment for the Faroe Islands, underscored the importance of focusing on the oceans, which play a vital role for the Arctic region and the Nordic Region more broadly. The minister pointed to the need for business considerations to go hand in hand with environmental priorities, as well as the opportunities for storing CO₂ on the seabed.
Nordic pavilion at COP30 aims to inspire
In addition to taking part in the negotiations at COP30, the Nordic ministers, through the Nordic Council of Ministers, will host a pavilion at the conference. Several of the ministers, along with Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, will participate in panel discussions and other events. Furthermore, the pavilion will serve as a platform for Nordic projects and reports that aim to provide green inspiration to other countries.
“At COP30 we won’t just be present – we will be proactive. We want the Nordic Pavilion to be a space for dialogue, innovation, and co-operation,” says Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Watch the event:
