HELSINKI, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The five Nordic countries signed a joint declaration on Friday in Helsinki on measures against the climate change.
In the declaration, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark said they wanted to "lead with their example", and will promote global mitigation efforts to limit the increase of temperature to one and a half degrees Celsius.
The Nordics noted they are able to "combine successfully economic growth and welfare with ambitious environmental policies and sustainable development."
"We must enable Nordic industry and business to take a leading role in the green transformation of the global economy. By working together we can develop zero emission technologies with global implications," they said in the declaration.
Besides technological solutions and financing, the countries also mentioned the high-level education and gender equality as Nordic assets in combating climate change.
Talking to the media, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said that emission levels began rising again last year and "there are not many years left" to work against it.
"We have to be faster and do more," Sipila said, noting that the Nordic countries have the political will and technological solutions to lead the combat against the climate change.
Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said that even though political leaders have different opinions, they share the Nordic values, which should be "the guiding light". She said she is a little more optimistic now "as it matters to the world that the Nordic countries have signed this statement today".
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg noted that a point of no return has been reached and the only adequate response after the Katowice meeting is to step up action.
Responding to a media question about the role of Norway as the only oil producer in the region, Solberg said Norway is increasingly switching to the production of natural gas. She also said Norwegian oil production aims at lowest possible emission levels.
Sweden and Denmark were represented by their ministers for the environment at the signing ceremony.
The Nordic Council of Ministers, a co-operative system chaired in 2019 by Iceland, will prepare follow-up measures to the Helsinki declaration.
