Statement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25)

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I would first like to thank the Governments of Chile and Spain for organising this conference in challenging circumstances.

We wish COP25 to be remembered for focusing on ambition, action and implementation.

In New York in September, many countries pledged to strengthen their targets under the Paris Agreement. However, we are still waiting for the biggest emitters to follow suit. We need these countries on board to reach the Paris goals.

Norway intend to do its part. Our long-term target is to become a low-emission society by reducing emissions by 90-95% by 2050. Our current target under the Paris Agreement is to reduce emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared with the 1990 level. Next year, Norway will strengthen this target.

To achieve this, Norway is developing new zero- and low-emission technologies, especially in the transport sector. We have made a good start. We are electrifying our car-park and ferries, and are now working on programs for zero-emission for the transportation of goods in our country. And we are increasing CO2-taxation, and increasing programs for research and development and new technologies for industries. Because green solutions are paving the way for new business opportunities and growth, as well as helping us to deal with climate threats.

At the same time we see that we need more global responses. Norway is substansially increasing support to developing countries' efforts to build climate resilience. This will be one of our main priorities of our development  assistance in the coming years. We intend to contribute approximately 15 million US dollars to the Adaption Fund. And we have more than doubled our contribution to the Green Climate Fund.

Together we must continue our work on forrest protection and even increase our ambitions for it. The international community must mobilise more long-term financial commitments to reduce deforestation. Unless we manage to halt tropical deforestation swiftly, we will not reach the Paris goals.

This “Blue COP” is also highlighting the importance of the oceans. The High-level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy has released a study showing how five ocean-based climate actions could deliver a fifth of the emissions cuts needed by 2050:

• by investing in nature-based climate solutions;
• scaling up offshore and ocean-based renewables;
• rapidly decarbonising ocean industries;
• promoting sustainable, resilient and low-carbon sources of food from the oceans; and
• by advancing the deployment of carbon capture and storage below the seabed.

We need to to all of these things if we're going to manage to halt the climate change.

Climate change affects us all, and we must act immediately.

Thank you.