Landvernd - Iceland

Landvernd is the oldest and largest nature conservation and environmental organization in Iceland. Since it was founded in 1969, it has worked to protect nature, improve environmental awareness, and promote the sustainable use of resources. One of Landvernd’s most important contributions to the future is its keen focus on education, which has fostered knowledge, responsibility, and engagement in environmental and climate issues among new generations.

Landvernd has been nominated for the 2026 Nordic Council Environment Prize on behalf of Iceland for its contribution to advancing sustainable development through education, empowerment, and active public participation. For more than two decades, Landvernd’s education group has been developing strong and innovative programmes, reaching children, young people, teachers, and school communities across Iceland, creating a lasting impact on attitudes, knowledge, and environmental behaviour across generations.

At the heart of this is the translation of environmental education into active participation. Projects such as the Green Flag programme, Ecological Restoration with Schools, and Environmental Journalism for Young People enable children and young people not only to learn about climate issues, nature conservation, and sustainability, but also to gain the skills they need to investigate, analyse, make decisions, and implement solutions. In this way, education becomes empowering and leads to real change within schools and local communities.

Landvernd’s work is characterised by innovation, combining scientific knowledge, modern pedagogy, and creative participation. In particular, Landvernd has developed the Young Reporters for the Environment initiative in Iceland, so that young people can use a wide range of communication methods, from documentaries and websites to visual arts, games, and other new forms of expression. This strengthens the voice of young people and makes environmental issues more accessible and personal.

Today, the Green Flag programme reaches around 150 schools at all educational levels and has become one of the largest platforms for environmental education in Iceland. Its methodology is based on active participation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and it can be adapted to different education systems and communities.

What makes Landvernd’s contribution unique is that, over more than two decades, the organisation has built a sustainable platform where children and young people are not only educated about today’s environmental challenges, but are also empowered to become active participants in solving them. Through innovative educational work, broad participation, and measurable societal impact, Landvernd has created a model with long-term value and clear transferability to other countries.