Nordic countries mark long history of decoupling the link between climate emissions and economic growth at COP21 in Paris
![Christian Friis Bach](/sites/default/files/styles/content_size_800/public/images/Christian%2520Friis%2520Bach549150.jpeg?itok=Lk_95a11)
The carbon intensity of Nordic electricity production has been reduced to 100g CO2 per KWh, equivalent to one-fifth of the global average in 2015. According to the IEA, this level is where the world needs to be in 2040 in order to limit global warming to a maximum of two degrees above pre-industrial levels.
“Nordic countries are 25 years ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to low CO2 emissions from electricity production,” says Director of Nordic Energy Research, Hans Jørgen Koch. “As demonstrated in the Nordic Energy Technology Perspectives, the region could realistically become carbon-neutral before 2050.”
Energy in focus at COP21
Wednesday 9 December, the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Energy Research and IEA host the side event Decoupling GDP and GHG – Lessons learned in the Nordic Countries at the Nordic Pavilion at COP21.
The event features presentations from IEA’s Executive Director Fatih Birol and Hans Jørgen Koch, Director of Nordic Energy Research, who will discuss decarbonisation from a global perspective, the Nordic countries’ achievements to date as well as the challenging road towards a carbon-neutral future. The event will be opened by Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten.
All five Nordic countries have actively used policy frameworks in decoupling CO2 emissions from GDP. Ministers and representatives from four Nordic countries will introduce some of their most successful measures for decarbonisation at the event.
An inspiring set of examples
Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment, Tine Sundtoft, will introduce the country’s now world-renowned electric mobility measures, and Christian Pilgaard Zinglersen, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Energy from the Danish Ministry for Climate, Energy and Building gives a presentation of the integration of renewable energy in the Nordic market.
Sweden’s Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Baylan, discusses the country’s experiences with carbon taxes and district heating with biomass, while Kimmo Tiilikainen, Finnish Minister for Agriculture and Environment, will focus on innovative policies and regulatory approaches to reducing emissions.
The presentations will be followed by a panel debate, moderated by Christian Friis Bach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General.
- Info on the event on December 9, 13:00-14:30: Decoupling GDP and GHG – Lessons learned in the Nordic Countries
- Visit www.norden.org/cop21 for the complete programme at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Pavilion, New Nordic Climate Solutions
- Read about Nordic Climate Solutions in our web magazine www.nordicway.org