U.S., Nordic Leaders Take Key Steps to Build Global Climate Ambition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama and the leaders of five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) today agreed to work together on a series of initiatives designed to meet the global challenge of climate change. Among the actions announced at the U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit were important commitments to quickly implement the Paris climate agreement; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by targeting both long- and short-lived climate pollutants across key industry sectors; and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

“Today’s summit is a welcome sign of leadership—the kind that is absolutely crucial to securing a safe and stable climate. With this U.S.-Nordic countries pact, the six nations are building the  momentum we need after Paris to ensure that the low-carbon growth strategies called for in that historic climate agreement are developed and applied quickly. 

“EDF lauds the joint commitment to drive down oil and gas methane emissions through regulations, targets, and voluntary actions, as well as the agreement to develop a global oil and gas methane reduction goal. Cost-effective solutions are already available to help reduce these powerful emissions. Now we just need to implement them more broadly to achieve a 45 percent global oil and gas methane reduction—a step that would have the same 20-year climate impact as closing about one thousand coal-fired power plants. It’s the quickest, cheapest way to slow the rate of anthropogenic warming—the best bargain in the climate business.

“The leaders’ affirmation to work collaboratively in two key international fora—the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Montreal Protocol—is important to ensure reductions from these critical sectors. Aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of carbon dioxide emissions globally, and the six leaders pledged to show leadership to ensure that ICAO meets its deadline of finalizing, this year, a global market-based measure to help achieve carbon neutral growth from 2020, and further emissions cuts in line with the Paris Agreement’s goals. By agreeing to adopt an amendment of the Montreal Protocol, the six leaders are also helping to cut 90 gigatons of dangerous HFCs as quickly as possible. I commend and thank them for their important work.”

-Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund