CEOs of Nordic companies urge further climate action

The CEO of Arion Bank, Benedikt Gíslason, has recently signed a CEO Statement with the CEOs of almost 80 Nordic signatories to the Global Compact expressing their support for the UN Global Compact's Ten Principles and Sustainable Development Goals, while upholding the targets of the Paris Agreement and urging further action to reach these targets. The statement was released to coincide with COP28.

Arion Bank is committed to helping Iceland meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement and other domestic and international environment and climate treaties and reach the ambitious goal of a net-zero Iceland by 2040. The Bank will apply the methodology of Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to set targets and action plans to achieve set targets and will also publish regular progress reports.

In order to reach net-zero emission targets we all need to make a concerted effort. The only way to achieve the necessary results is to ensure close international collaboration between governments, the public sector and the private sector. This statement is a call for companies and the authorities globally to accelerate the transition to green energy and to set quantifiable targets and plans designed to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Governments are urged to step up investment in green fuels, adopt regulatory frameworks which encourage investment in green infrastructure, support SMEs in their transition to green energy and to improve access to green financing.

The CEO Statement can be read here.