Romina Pourmokhtari: NCQG must be ambitious to achieve Paris Agreement goals

The new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG) must be bold and relevant, stated Romina Pourmokhtari, Sweden's Minister for Climate and the Environment, at the high-level meeting during COP29, according to Report.

"Today, we are at a turning point in human history. Climate change is not a distant threat. It is happening here and now, affecting the entire world, demanding united and relentless action," she said.

She said Sweden calls for urgent measures to combat the climate crisis, as climate change threatens the existence of humanity. Pourmokhtari welcomed the historic agreement reached at COP28 in Dubai and emphasized that COP29 must honor this legacy.

Renewable energy plays a crucial role in climate action, and nuclear energy is also key to achieving global net-zero emissions, she said, adding that by tripling nuclear capacity worldwide by 2050, we can keep the temperature rise within 1.5 degrees and firmly confront climate change, the minister noted.

According to the minister, countries must submit new nationally determined contributions ahead of COP30 in Brazil next year and fulfill their commitments. Sweden is ready to be a reliable partner in shaping and implementing ambitious goals, aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. The country's strategy relies on leveraging innovations and the dynamics of its business sector, with many representatives present at COP29, participating in developing cutting-edge solutions in renewable and nuclear energy, as well as sustainable financing.

She said Sweden will remain a steadfast provider of climate financing, having already increased its contribution by over $80 million.

"However, achieving the Paris Agreement goals requires a fundamental transformation of domestic and global economic and financial systems. The NCQG must be bold and relevant, with every country making commitments to the new goal. Those able to do so should make financial contributions, while recipient countries should contribute through achieving results in climate actions on the ground," emphasized Pourmokhtari.