Norden agree to cooperate on climate change

The Nordic countries have agreed to cooperate on climate change and the sea environment, the Norwegian government said on Wednesday.

Ministers of environment from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark have accepted Norway's proposal on the cooperation, Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Ola Elvestuen was quoted as saying in a statement.

"The climate changes will have big consequences for the Nordic sea areas -- from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic. Therefore, it is important that the Nordic countries strengthen cooperation to ensure sustainable use and conservation of these marine areas," Elvestuen said.

Extreme weather and rise of sea level can cause serious economic and security policy impacts for all countries in the world, including the Nordic, according to the statement.

This can also threaten the economy and food safety of vulnerable coastal communities and hit some of the world's largest cities and most densely populated agricultural areas, it said.

"A Nordic cooperation on climate change and the marine environment will give the Nordic region a clearer voice in international cooperation in protecting the seas," Elvestuen added.

Some of the topics for the cooperation will be the role of the seas in the climate system and the carbon cycle, as well as the impact of climate changes in the Nordic sea and coastal areas.

Another important issue is what climate changes, climate policy and development towards the low-carbon society will mean for the sea economy.

Joint projects in climate adaptation and the ways the Nordic countries can contribute to international work on sea and climate will also be part of the cooperation.