Is economic growth compatible with a sustainable future? : Conference on Decoupling in the Nordics 2023

Green growth forms the core of sustainable development strategies. The central assumption is that economic growth can continue while reducing resource use, environmental pressures, and impacts. Resource use and environmental pressures can be absolutely decoupled from growth, and we can halt climate change and biodiversity loss without adversely affecting economic growth. The report; Is Economic Growth Compatible with a Sustainable Nordic Future? written by Norion Consult, assesses, evaluates, and questions arguments and evidence for and against decoupling as a realistic long-term solution. To continue the dialogue concerning this topic, a conference commissioned by the Nordic Working Group for Environment and Economy, was held on March 23rd, 2023, by Norion Consult. This report describes challenges, summarizes the presentations and discussions, and recommends the next steps

End-of-life treatment of Hydrofluoroole-fins (HFOs)

This report examines the current use of hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), also called unsaturated hydrofluorocarbons (uHFC) in the Nordic countries and maps the existing systems to secure the safe recovery, collection, and treatment of HFOs that are no longer in use. Furthermore, this study explores and proposes measures and options for effective systems for collecting and treating HFOs in the Nordic countries when they are no longer needed. In addition to the Nordic countries of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, Germany and Switzerland were also included to provide a beyond Nordic perspective

Biodiversity and financing : Review of tools in the Nordic countries

Financial institutions have facilitated the expansion of business activities detrimental to biological diversity. However, the demand for investing in activities with positive impact on nature is rapidly rising, and the financial sector is increasingly urged to align their portfolios with biodiversity positive outcomes. This report provides a status of existing analytical tools and public and private strategies that ensure that public and private investments strengthen, not weaken, biodiversity. The report also looks closer at the approaches to biodiversity safeguards in the Nordic financial institutions Nefco (Nordic Environment Finance Corporation), NDF (Nordic Development Fund) and NIB (Nordic Investment Bank), and examines their methods to support biodiversity and nature through their financial activities

Nature Risk : An analysis of use and applicability in the Nordic countries

This report generates an overview of the use of the nature risk concept, describes the scope, and assesses the applicability in the Nordic countries, and in international organisations. The concept of nature-related risks is found to be mainly in use in the financial sector. The application of the term has increased rapidly in recent years, with numerous efforts to implement the concept. Moreover, similar concepts precede, within the same scope; the earliest being biodiversity risk. It is recommended that each of the Nordic countries take active steps to implement the concept of nature risk in relevant policies, regulations and sectors. It is also recommended that the Nordic countries follow the international development on nature risk and related policy areas, such as the EU taxonomy and the TNFD framework, and ensure that national policy is aligned with the international agenda

Synergies between climate and biodiversity objectives in laws, policies and management practices

The study supports the exchange of knowledge to further develop effective policy and management tools for nature-based solutions for the climate and the environment. The study compiles good examples which shed light on how the Nordic countries have been successful inimplementing measures to simultaneously address climate change, pollution and biodiversityobjectives in laws, policies and administrative practices, including highlighting potential barriers forimplementing integrated policy solutions. Moreover, it provides recommendations for screening methods of laws, policies and management practices to revealuntapped synergies between climate change, pollution and biodiversity measures. Finally, the report proposes joint Nordic initiatives that can maximise synergies between biodiversity, climateand pollution initiatives in the Nordic region and globally