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Summers are hotter, winters are colder and this fall is green. Climate change is a growing storm, potentially bringing Nordic stability to an end. What can be done to reverse the damage and change the future?  This fall, Nordregio is leading the charge with an event series dedicated to research-based tools and best practices for advancing the green transition – and we’re not gatekeeping any of it! Come with us on a green tinted pathway from research to action.   Nordic countries are committed to significant green transition milestones, aiming for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Nordic Vision by 2030. Yet, achieving climate targets and cutting consumption-based emissions is lagging. To secure a sustainable future, we must take bold steps. “Nordregio’s research provides insights and solutions to support a just green transition across a wide range of topics. My hope is that through This Fall is Green, we can offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Nordic Region towards the Nordic Vision 2030 – and inspire to act accordingly.” – Rolf Elmér, Nordregio director This year, the fall is green. The green transition cannot wait—it requires a joint effort across sectors and disciplines. How can we together speed up the transition towards a socio-economically inclusive and climate-neutral region? Our event series will guide you through the critical steps necessary to achieve this transformation. This Fall is Green will highlight the latest research on achieving a socially just green transition and offer actionable policy recommendations. Together, we can accelerate progress toward the Nordic Vision: becoming the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. Register now for tools and inspiration: ACTION: Nordic solutions and inspiration for key actors driving the changeSustainable Living Summit is a full-day conference in Stockholm and online offering research results, tools and…

In a recent episode of the UCLA Housing Voice podcast, Nordregio researcher Anna Granath Hansson joined Paavo Monkkonen and host Shane Phillips to explore whether inclusionary housing policies could provide both affordable housing and social diversity within Scandinavian neighbourhoods. Inclusionary housing policies, which seek to create affordable housing and socially diverse neighbourhoods through land use regulation, have been widely implemented in the United States and have gradually spread across Europe. However, their adoption in Scandinavia has been cautious. Despite Denmark, Norway, and Sweden’s shared welfare state traditions that emphasize equal opportunities and accessible housing, their planning systems have not readily embraced inclusionary policies. A recent study published in Housing Studies by Anna Granath Hansson, Janni Sørensen, Berit I. Nordahl, and Michael Tophøj Sørensen, delves into the unique political landscapes and housing policy frameworks of each Scandinavian country, highlighting the reasons behind this slow adoption. The study finds that inclusionary housing policies deliver varying results across Scandinavia. In Denmark and Sweden, social diversity is prioritized, aiming for neighbourhoods that reflect a broader social mix. In Norway, the focus is primarily on affordability, reflecting a distinct policy emphasis. As a result, the effectiveness of inclusionary housing policies diverges depending on the national context and policy focus, raising important questions about their suitability within the Scandinavian welfare state model. The research invites policymakers and urban planners to consider how inclusionary housing policies might be tailored to reflect the values and goals of Scandinavian societies, and whether these policies are the most effective tool for achieving both affordable and socially mixed housing across diverse urban landscapes.

To achieve their climate goals, the Nordic countries need to implement ambitious climate policies in the coming years. The green transition impacts all parts of society, and the just green transition means adding a social dimension: it must be inclusive and avoid disproportionately affecting certain groups.   Policymakers face a major challenge of ensuring that everyone is part of the journey to climate neutrality. This calls for a broader understanding of the social implications, which is why the Nordic research institute Nordregio just launched a digital toolbox, providing policymakers with the knowledge and resources to develop inclusive, fair policies.    Nordregio’s research, supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, identified six actionable priority areas to make the transition inclusive: developing a vision, engaging citizens, assessing and mitigating social and regional impacts, adopting a place-based approach, investing in inclusive reskilling and upskilling, and supporting green choices.   “The user-friendly toolbox highlights the key areas policymakers need to keep track of, which is invaluable when working to ensure that Iceland’s green transition is both fair and inclusive”, says Eggert Benedikt Guðmundsson, Leader of Sustainable Development in the Prime Minister´s Office of Iceland, and chair of the research project’s steering group.    The consequences of an unjust green transition could be far-reaching, with increased social inequalities and divides, reduced economic productivity, and lower competitiveness.    “We want to point out in a simple way what policymakers need to take into account to make the green transition as fair as possible”, Nora Sánchez Gassen, senior researcher at Nordregio.     The toolbox is the final product of Nordregio’s research project Not Just a Green Transition (NJUST) – Examining the path towards a socially just green transition in the Nordic Region. The content is based on desk research, a Nordic survey and discussions with representatives of social groups. Extra attention is…

Nordregio is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Niedomysl as its new Research Director. Thomas commenced his role this month, taking charge of Nordregio’s research priorities and providing support to the research team.

The Nordic countries are often considered global front-runners when it comes to creating sustainable societies. And while we do a lot of things right, big tasks lie ahead if we are to reach our vision of being the most integrated and sustainable region in the world by 2030. So how can we make sustainable everyday choices more attractive?  The Sustainable Living programme set out to explore this, collecting six innovative projects, each addressing a crucial aspect of sustainability: youth, food, culture, product labelling, education, and gender. The ultimate goal is to make sustainable choices the new norm in the Nordic Region and this requires a team effort across sectors and country borders. This week, Nordregio hosted the Sustainable Living Summit in Stockholm, marking the conclusion of the four-year programme. The event launched the Sustainable Living Hub, collecting all the project resources in one place, and thought leaders across industries, policy, government, academia and civil society joined as we shared an inspiring conference day for sharing Nordic knowledge. Nordregio was pleased by the strong interest in the event, with nearly 700 people registering to attend either in person at Kulturhuset or online (watch a recording of the event here).   Sweden’s Climate Minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, was invited to open the full-day event, and she set the tone for a collaborative atmosphere by putting emphasis on our everyday practices and Nordic collaborations:   “The Sustainable Living programme is a shining example of how we can foster sustainable lifestyle choices and integrate sustainability into our everyday lives through concrete guidelines and Nordic peer learning.”  Her words encapsulated the sense of responsibility that echoed throughout the day’s discussions, underscoring the need to tackle environmental challenges across sectors and disciplines. Throughout the day, the speakers put the spotlight on both a policy level and an individual level. Sustainable…

Last week, the Nordic City Network’s latest urban lab took place in the small town of Genarp in Lund municipality, Sweden. The lab gathered 65 politicians and planners from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden to explore what makes smaller towns attractive and discuss strategies for enhancing Genarp’s appeal.  To inspire the discussions, the Network invited several guest speakers, including Nordregio’s Anna Granath Hansson who presented findings from our ongoing research project Small Town Attractiveness, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.  The project examines how national policies on urban attractiveness are implemented in six smaller Nordic towns, with a focus on public space, housing, and connectivity. Anna highlighted the importance of creating vibrant town centers, ensuring a varied and affordable housing supply, and improving access to efficient and affordable connectivity solutions. The project’s final results are set to be released in January 2025. During the panel discussion, Anna also emphasized the need for greater regional cooperation: “Going forward, it would be beneficial to focus less on conflicts of interest or competition between smaller towns and cities. Instead, we should recognise our shared challenges and work together to find solutions. Issues like climate change and transportation must be tackled collaboratively, involving the entire rural-urban continuum.” Other guest speakers also provided valuable insights. Bo René Schjødt Andersen from Fredericia, Denmark, highlighted their town’s strategy for attracting new residents, identifying five key factors: natural surroundings, strong community ties, efficient mobility solutions, affordable housing, and quality public institutions. Camilla Ottosson, project coordinator for the BY2030 initiative, shared how the Region of Kronoberg in Sweden is working closely with local communities to co-create sustainable futures for small villages. Meanwhile, Anna Kanervo from Norrköping’s municipal housing company inspired attendees by detailing a successful collaboration with a local church and municipal departments to revitalize a struggling local center.…