Articles
- Arctic in need of first aid. Emissions of carbon and methane must be cut now
- Debate article written jointly by the environment and climate ministers of Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland:
- Focus on EU Waste Directive
- In a recycling society the issue of waste management and re-use is extremely relevant and has been the focus of greater attention in recent years. In the Nordic Council of Ministers there has been co-operation in waste management for a long time. This has not only benefited the Nordic countries but has also provided valuable input to the EU's efforts in this area. The Nordic countries are well-placed to exploit their leading edge to collaborate on the development of a recycling society, for example, in global exports of methods and technology. The trend for a significant increase in the price of raw materials is a good argument for such Nordic involvement.
- Large-scale industry, consumerism and motoring in a country with an abundance of clean energy
- Egill Helgason
- Dec 02, 2011
- The Icelandic government approved an action plan for climate change last year. The course they have projected will reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases by up to 30 per cent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. The target in 2007 was to reduce emissions by 50-70 per cent before 2050. This is in line with EU policy.
- Denmark will - again! - be a pioneer green country
- Thomas Larsen
- Dec 02, 2011
- The new Danish government led by Social Democrat Helle Thorning-Schmidt may make history as a green government. A new energy plan contains sky-high ambitions. The business community is cautiously positive - but fears for its competitiveness.
- Resignation and some good suggestions
- Eva Franchell
- Dec 02, 2011
- In the weeks leading up to the climate summit in Durban there is intense debate in Sweden – on care for the elderly. The private equity firm Carema has neglected old and senile people. The company has earned big money from Swedish taxpayers while Carema's own profits have been transferred to the tax haven of Jersey. A series of reports on television, radio and in all the Swedish newspapers have has dominated the debate and shaken the government. It is perhaps typical of our times.
- Climate clash on hold
- Aslak Bonde
- Dec 02, 2011
- In the winter, or the spring, the Norwegian parliament (Storting) will make the unpopular decisions which will result in tremendous cuts in Norwegian climate gas emissions by 2020. Or perhaps there will be yet another delay? 14 years' experience of follow-up to the Kyoto Agreement indicates that the politicians will once again put the difficult decisions off. It is much easier to save the rain forests in Brazil and Indonesia than to force Norwegians to drive their cars less.
- The climate debate is no longer in vogue
- Markku Heikkilä
- Nov 24, 2011
- Finland's climate policy has to a large extent involved an adjustment to the European Union's general climate line. The same applies to the Durban summit. Finland's support for the EU's target of a 30 per cent reduction in emissions is conditional, whereas all the major industrialised countries have sincerely promised to reduce their emissions. There is emphasis on the role of clean technology. Despite this, the main change that has occurred in the climate debate is that the whole subject has been side-tracked, left in the background of politics but out of sight.
- The Nordic countries must ensure broader agricultural subsidies that show more solidarity
- Ann-Kristine Johansson
- The Nordic Council's Environment Committee has recently submitted a statement to the EU Commission as an input to the reform of the EU agricultural subsidies. We attach importance to improving food safety and ensuring food supply and call for an agricultural policy that promotes production across the Nordic region.
- Nordic countries get an international voice in the Arctic
- Helena Spongenberg
- Jun 23, 2011
- Global warming has changed the Arctic and the region is now facing a very different future that many nations and companies want to be a part of. The Arctic countries are set to make big short term earnings, but at what cost? Analys Norden takes a look at the Nordic countries’ role in the Arctic debate and how they see the risks and opportunities in the Arctic.
- Den arktiska frågan står och stampar efter valet, precis som allt annat
- Markku Heikkilä
- Jun 09, 2011
- För två år sedan fick Finlands utrikesminister Alexander Stubb ett arktiskt uppvaknande vid Arktiska rådets utrikesministermöte i Tromsö. Efter det inledde Finland en stark utrikespolitisk invasion mot norr. Men när de övriga ländernas arktiska utrikesministrar samlades i Nuuk nu i maj stannade Stubb hemma. Efter valet i april har all politik i Finland varit som förlamad, inklusive den arktiska politiken.
- Til verden – via arktis
- Aslak Bonde
- Jun 09, 2011
- Er det én ting norske utenrikspolitikere er opptatt av, så er det å få tilgang til de store aktørene i verdenspolitikken. Tidligere ble fredsmegling brukt som et redskap for å gjøre seg interessant blant annet i USA og EU – nå blir jobbingen med Arktis mer og mer verdifull. Svalbard er blitt Norges mest internasjonaliserte lokalsamfunn, og når Arktisk Råd får sekretariat i Tromsø flytter storpolitikken enda litt nærmere.
- En region under isen
- Eva Franchell
- Jun 09, 2011
- I Sverige finns ett begrepp som innebär att man inte mår riktigt bra: Man är ”under isen”. Begreppet beskriver väl situationen i Arktis våren 2011. Som nytt ordförandeland i Arktiska rådet får Sverige ägna sig åt ren krishantering.
- Grønland er en nøgleaktør i Arktis
- Steen Ulrik Johannessen
- Jun 09, 2011
- Den globale opvarmning har gjort Arktis til et økonomisk og politisk særdeles hedt område, hvor den smeltende is gør ressourcerne mere tilgængelige. Grønland har allerede taget hul på mulighederne og er begyndt at udnytte dem, men det sker ikke uden massiv kritik fra miljøorganisationer.
- Trængsel i ishavet
- Thomas Larsen
- Jun 09, 2011
- Med deltagelse af blandt andre USA’s udenrigsminister Hillary Clinton blev maj måneds topmøde i Arktisk Råd en manifestation af, at spillet om Arktis er blevet international storpolitik. Danmark er med – via Rigsfællesskabet med Grønland – og ruster sig til kampen om forekomsterne af olie og gas højt mod nord.
- Nordpolen, Island og EU
- Egill Helgason
- Jun 09, 2011
- Debatten om nordområdene går livlig på Island. Den handler om mulighetene som kan oppstå, farer man står overfor og Islands plass i verden, men nordområdene blir også brukt i dagens politiske konflikter, ofte på en noe forvirrende måte.
- Everything in Norway is green
- Aslak Bonde
- Apr 07, 2011
- The debate on green growth and sustainability is characterized by the concept of diversity, fuzzy statistics and shifting perspectives. Sometimes it seems as if everything that is IT-based or runs on rails is green, and that climate and environmentally harmful activities in Norway are really sustainable, because the same activities would have been even more harmful to the environment in other countries. Somewhat self-righteous perhaps, but it could be right.
- Consumer happy nation in vulnerable nature
- Egill Helgason
- Apr 07, 2011
- About a quarter of Iceland was probably covered by forest before settlement. In a short time the settlers managed to destroy the forests. Iceland is known for its unspoiled nature, open country, wilderness and sand deserts; much of which actually came about through destruction of the vegetation and erosion. Icelanders have to starting thinking about how they treat nature.
- Sustainable step in the right direction on the Faroe Islands
- Ingolf S. Olsen
- Apr 07, 2011
- It is absolutely imperative that the Faroese fishing fleets are reduced if there is a desire for the fisheries industry of the future to be biologically, economically and socially sustainable. So far, passivity in the industry itself and the politicians' reluctance to get involved has prevented such a reduction.
- Clean technology and new knowledge about natural resources
- Markku Heikkilä
- Apr 07, 2011
- Finland, sobering up after the Nokia frenzy, is looking with a new perspective at the resources that no wave of globalisation can take away from the country. Finland will continue to safeguard its welfare by means of clean technology – bio-energy from the forests, water and minerals know-how. It is looking for a combination of these in order to realise a sustainable economy and green growth.
- Swedish dispute on green growth
- Eva Franchell
- Apr 07, 2011
- The new leader of the Social Democratic Party, Håkan Juholt, gave a popular policy speech at the party congress a couple of weeks ago. He is amusing, has a moustache and on the podium he offered an almost chortling optimism for the future.
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