The Nordic Region aims to be a pioneer in the environment sector and to share its experiences with others. Our patterns of consumption and production impact upon the environment, which means that the economy has to be seen in an environmental perspective, and vice versa.

Co-operation in the Nordic Region

Conservation, environmental care, maintenance of bio-diversity, the environment and health, and sustainable consumption and production are all high on the agenda in the Nordic Region.

Themes such as the environment and the economy are also important priorities. Consumers are entitled to safe, healthy foodstuffs and the best possible product information, e.g. through labelling initiatives such as the Nordic Ecolabel.

Nordic co-operation is based on the principle of Nordic synergy, which means that the countries work together whenever doing so will yield better results or save more resources than a unilateral or bilateral approach. The co-operation may consist of dividing the work between countries or working together in an agreed direction. On this basis, environmental co-operation during 2009–2012 will focus on the following themes:

• The climate and the air
• Seas and coastal zones
• Biological diversity and eco-system services
• Sustainable consumption and production

International work on the environment

Active participation in international co-operation has long been considered crucial by the Nordic countries. Environmental problems do not recognise national borders, and can lead to conflict between countries and peoples.

Together, the Nordic countries play a role in both European and global developments in this area. By co-ordinating their efforts, the Nordic countries have been able to contribute to international work on the environment in the form of positive initiatives and tried-and-tested solutions. This work will continue in the future and will be further developed.

The Nordic countries help to make sure that the EU focuses on environmental issues. Denmark, Finland and Sweden are members of the EU, while Norway and Iceland provide their input into EU environment work through the EEA Treaty. Nordic environmental co-operation is designed to improve the EU's regulations and international agreements in order to tackle environmental challenges as effectively as possible.

Addressing environmental issues in the Adjacent Areas is a priority area for the Nordic Region. The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) is a successful joint Nordic project that funds many small and medium-sized environment projects in Russia and the Ukraine as well as in the Baltic States. The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) increasingly prioritises environmental issues, especially questions concerning the climate and the Baltic Sea.

The Nordic countries are also active in environmental co-operation on the Arctic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and in the Council of the Baltic Sea States, as well as within the framework of the regional conventions. Many of the effects of threats to the environment are particularly visible in the Arctic Region.

The Nordic countries have therefore devised a collective strategy for pollution and climate change in the Arctic Region, which is designed to conserve the unique Arctic environment. The Nordic Region's geographical location and intimate knowledge of the sensitive Arctic environment makes it ideally suited to highlighting Arctic issues in a variety of international contexts.

Globalisation and the environment

Ongoing globalisation entails increased exploitation of resources in all areas, but it can also contribute towards a collective approach to environmental issues. Our dependence upon the outside world is becoming ever greater at the same time as demand for the Earth's limited resources increases.

The activities of rapidly growing larger economies, such as India, China and Russia, are increasingly significant in terms of their environmental impact. Through development, aid and work in international organs, the Nordic Region disseminates knowledge and experiences to these and other countries on subjects like water, energy, air, environmental technology, chemicals and the climate.

The Nordic countries also work together to identify synergies between the environment conventions and other organs of international environmental co-operation. The Region has long pushed for an effective international approach to the environment.

If environmental issues are to be of greater importance in the UN as a whole, then it is also important to strengthen UNEP. To that end, a co-operation project has been launched with the aim of seeking synergies between conventions dealing with chemicals and waste. A similar approach should be adopted to biological diversity.

Result

Examples of existing high-visibility programmes within wider Nordic co-operation are the projects on the development of criteria for green public-sector procurement; emission-quota trading in greenhouse gases in the Baltic Sea Region; bio-diversity indicators; work on non-indigenous species; the convention catalogue on nature and the cultural environment; and the drawing up of fact sheets on mercury as part of global negotiations in UNEP.

The Nordic Council Nature and Environment Prize

In order to increase awareness of the importance of conservation and environmental controls in the Nordic Region, the Nordic Council annually awards the Nature and Environment Prize in conjunction with the  Nordic Council Session.

The prize is awarded to a Nordic company, organisation, news media outlet or individual for exemplary work in integrating an environmental perspective into their activities, or in some other way making an extraordinary contribution to nature and the environment.

A specific annual theme is set for the annual DKK 350,000 prize.