Minister calls for quick move towards carbon neutrality

Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, was among the panellists in Climate Action‘s virtual panel:  Leading the way to carbon neutrality: The Nordics. 

The Nordic region has been leading the race for carbon neutrality. In his address Gudbrandsson raised the issue that carbon neutrality is the way ahead and that we need to get there quickly.

Discussions during the panel included the Nordic countries goals for reaching carbon neutrality and the role energy transition plays therein. How the region is utilizing circular economy practices and nature based solutions, such as afforestation, revegetation and wetland restoration was also among the topics, as were methods for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and mineralization (CCM). A CCM technology, called CarbFix,  which turns gaseous carbon in fumes into stone has been developed in Iceland.

Gudbrandsson pointed out that Iceland‘s present government came into office with a promise of carbon neutrality by 2040. „Setting such a goal has sent a signal to everyone that we need drastic change. And that we need it quickly,” Gudbrandsson said. “This has already inspired many companies and local governments to start working towards this goal.”

Gudbrandsson also noted that the Icelandic government has placed an emphasis on decarbonizing transport, afforestation and the restoration of wetlands and other eco-systems, which also relate to the government’s measures to protect and reclaim biodiversity.

Climate Action is an organization that establishes and builds partnerships between business, government and public bodies to accelerate international sustainable development and advance the ‘green economy’. Among other panellists in the virtual panel were Norway’s Deputy Minister for Energy and Petroleum and the director of the Danish Energy Agency.