Low-Carbon Circular Transition in the Nordics
Low-Carbon Circular Transition in the Nordics

Author: Sepponen, Susanna

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2023-03-08

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 9289375132

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-504/ The Nordic region aims to be a forerunner in the transition to circular economy. This project aimed to find areas, industries, and sectors, and potential in them, important for the circular transition in the Nordics. The barriers for unleashing the potential were also studied.Four areas of industry and two cross-cutting drivers were selected for the study. The bioeconomy, the food and beverage sector, building and construction, and the mobility sector play a prominent role in the Nordic economies. They are also responsible for significant emissions and waste. The drivers – applying new circular business models and better exploiting data/digitalisation – can bring change that holds promise for significant benefits.The study’s results are summed up in a set of recommendations addressing how the barriers can be torn down and how positive impacts of circular transition can be supported.

Circular Business Models
Circular Business Models

Author: Flack, Martin

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2023-02-08

Total Pages: 62

ISBN-13: 9289375175

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-507/ Deepened Nordic cooperation can speed up the circular economy and unlock multiple benefits and a sustainable, robust development path for the Nordic countries. This report explores how circular economy can be a key enabler for strengthening the Nordics as a region in the new geopolitical landscape. The report presents an overview of the benefits, status, and progress so far on circularity in the Nordics, an inventory of circular economy policies in the Nordics, and a first outline of opportunities for deepened Nordic collaboration and coordination to accelerate the circular transition and building a more resilient, sustainable Nordic region. The report highlights four areas where deepened Nordic cooperation can play an important role.

Towards a sustainable and integrated Nordic Region
Towards a sustainable and integrated Nordic Region

Author: Nordic Council of Ministers Secretariat

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2022-11-01

Total Pages: 63

ISBN-13: 9289373830

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/politiknord2022-724/ In 2019, the Nordic prime ministers adopted a vision for the Nordic Region to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by the year 2030. The Nordic Council of Ministers was tasked with steering Nordic co-operation towards delivering this vision. The Nordic Council of Ministers is following a special action plan in its efforts relating to the vision for the period 2021 to 2024. Now, after almost two years, a mid-point evaluation has been produced. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine during the period, the Nordic Council of Ministers has delivered concrete results and made an impact. The activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers are being steered towards supporting the Nordic countries as well as possible in their realisation of the vision. Efforts relating to the green transition have been bolstered by way of DKK 120 million in additional funding thanks to a budget redistribution in the period 2021 to 2024. The mid-point evaluation was approved by the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation in September 2022.

THE NORDIC REGION – a sustainable and integrated region?
THE NORDIC REGION – a sustainable and integrated region?

Author: Nordic Council of Ministers Secretariat

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published:

Total Pages: 73

ISBN-13: 9289376058

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/politiknord2023-728/ Our Vision 2030 describes what it will take to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. The sheer ambition makes it important to monitor progress closely. To this end, the Nordic Council of Ministers commissioned Rambøll Management Consulting to conduct baseline measurements back in 2021. The idea was to map out the starting point for work on the vision. This status report follows up on the baseline measurements and assesses progress towards realising the vision. It is based on the 45 indicators adopted by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021 and the methodology used for the baseline report. Overall, the 2023 status report shows that the Nordic Region remains on track to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. This is particularly true for the visions of a competitive Nordic Region and a socially sustainable Nordic Region. However, there is room for improvement with regard to the visions for a green Nordic Region.

Can economic instruments promote a circular economy?
Can economic instruments promote a circular economy?

Author: Eriksson, Flintull Annica

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published:

Total Pages: 85

ISBN-13: 9289377712

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2024-505/ The report analyses the potential of developing new economic instruments or modifying existing ones to promote the transition towards a circular economy, with examples from the textile- and construction sector. The results are similar for the two sectors. Economic instruments that could promote circularity include environmental taxes, such as natural resource taxes, import taxes, waste taxes, as well as Extended Producer Responsibility, VAT, and subsidies. A more in-depth analysis of the implementation of environmental taxes in the respective sectors show that taxes can be used to affect the market and consumer behaviour. However, the results indicate that the tax level needs to be relatively high to boost a shift towards circular economy. The results also show the difficulty in anticipating environmental and socio-economic impacts of a tax.

THE NORDICS – a sustainable and integrated region?
THE NORDICS – a sustainable and integrated region?

Author: Nordic Council of Ministers Secretariat

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2021-08-23

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9289370637

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/politiknord2021-727/ Our Vision 2030 seeks to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. When pursuing such an ambitious goal, it is important to monitor progress closely and regularly. The Nordic Council of Ministers commissioned Rambøll Management Consulting to draw up a baseline measurement for Our Vision and paint a picture of where the Nordic Region stands now. While the report shows that the foundations for the work are solid and progress generally good, it also identifies a number of challenges and points out where there is room for improvement, especially in terms of the green transition.

The Nordic countries in the green transition – more than just neighbours
The Nordic countries in the green transition – more than just neighbours

Author: Tine Sundtoft

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2018-04-13

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 9289355514

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The Nordic countries have been working together for several decades to protect nature and the environment. This report presents the recommendations that have emerged from an external strategic review of the potential for official Nordic co-operation on the environment and climate under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers for the Environment and Climate. The recommendations relate to the following five main areas: specific solutions for a green transition, mobilising key players, funding green transition, international co-operation, and adaptation to climate change. This report is part of a series of strategic and prospective studies commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Previous strategic reviews have dealt with working life, health and energy. The strategic reviews are part of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ reform programme.

Synergies and trade-offs between carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of buildings
Synergies and trade-offs between carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of buildings

Author: Sankelo, Paula

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2022-09-15

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 9289373970

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Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-551/ Low-carbon and circular public procurement aims at reducing climate emissions, promoting value retention, closed material loops and savings in resource use. In the construction and renovation of buildings, attention is paid to the planning phase as well as minimizing material and demolition waste and recycling waste appropriately. In the construction of road infrastructure, significant savings in material and money could be achieved by utilizing secondary materials from the site or nearby.This study examined and illustrated the approaches of low-carbon and circular construction and their synergies and trade-offs. Emissions and potential emission savings were calculated in three case studies representing different aspects of circular construction.

Nordic businesses on climate transition, competitiveness and growth
Nordic businesses on climate transition, competitiveness and growth

Author:

Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

Published: 2018-04-11

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9289355697

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In order to investigate how climate efforts and competitiveness are connected in the Nordic region, CEO's and top management of some of the leading companies in the five countries have been interviewed. According to the interviews, the Nordic region can contribute to reaching the Paris Agreement. Climate change is top of mind of CEOs, chairs and top-level management in Nordic companies, and contributing to reaching global climate goals is not only altruistic. Almost all companies say that climate efforts can boost competitiveness. There is strong support for the Nordic region to be front runners in global climate efforts and acting together to push the EU to adapt more ambitious climate policies. The interviewed companies have approximately 540 000 employees. The aggregated revenue of the companies is around 200 billion EUR, corresponding to 17 percent of the GDP of the Nordic region.