6.2 Local and municipal level
Gender budgeting (IS)
Reykjavík City has implemented gender budgeting across all departments. Gender budgeting as well as all gender mainstreaming work is facilitated by a Gender Budgeting Project Manager. Written instructions and video guides for Gender Budgeting as well as gender analyses are available online. All new projects are subjected to a gender analysis carried out by City staff. See
chapter 4.4.3 for further details.
Gender equality in climate strategy (SE)
Umeå municipality has formulated a gender equality goal in their “Climate contract”. This contract is developed as part of the municipality’s participation in the Viable Cities Network.
Collaboration on increased gender balance in the STEM fields (DK)
Region Midtjylland has initiated efforts targeting the gender imbalance in specifically the care sector and the STEM fields. The aim of the initiative is to enhance diversity and bolster the workforce and is thus not explicitly linked to promoting gender equality in the green transition. However, engagement in STEM education and professional environments inherently leads to a greater number of women influencing green transition initiatives and projects. The initiative involves collaborating with educational institutions to encourage and support underrepresented genders to pursue professions within this field. The set goal is a minimum representation of 10% women.
Iceland School of Energy (IS)
Iceland School of Energy (ISE) at Reykjavik University has for a decade been committed to countering the gender imbalance in their educational programmes. One initiative is the Women in Energy Scholarship, which supports female students by covering one-third of the tuition for master’s programs. ISE has been very successive in countering the gender imbalance, with a 66% of female enrolments in 2023, compared to 34% in 2018.
Gender analyses as part of bicycle strategy process (NO)
Oslo municipality has carried out a gender analyses as part of their bicycle strategy process. As a result of that analyses, gender dimensions are integrated into Oslo Municipality’s Oslo bicycle strategy 2015-2025.
Collaboration with the University, including students conducting gender analyses (IS)
The Government Offices of Iceland and the City of Reykjavík have an agreement with the University of Iceland about students carrying out projects and theses on gender mainstreaming- and budgeting in relation to national and local policies and initiatives. The initiative is led by Dr. Finnborg Salome Steinþórsdóttir since 2016. See
chapter 4.4.1 for further details.
Knowledge hub on climate and gender (IS)
The City of Reykjavík has launched a Knowledge Hub on Climate Change. The Knowledge Hub offers knowledge on gendered aspects of climate change and climate policies, tools, and best practices from across the Nordics, and the purpose is to render this information accessible to local communities, government authorities, and public institutions in the policy development and planning towards just, green transition. See
chapter 4.1.3 for further details.
6.3 Civil society
Advocacy and monitoring of gender mainstreaming the green transition (DK + NO)
Both KVINFO (DK), Kilden Genderresearch (NO) and CONCORD (SE) have published numerous papers and reports on gender equality in the green transition and in climate policy making. Furthermore, these organisations have hosted events, seminars and conferences inviting policy makers and ministers from relevant ministries.
KVINFO has reviewed the gender equality assessments of legislative proposals in all Danish ministries, including Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities and the Ministry of Environment and Food. This is an effective strategy in reminding the government of its responsibility as well as the importance of gender mainstreaming in climate policies.
Especially in countries where gender mainstreaming is less institutionalised, pressure from the civil society is important in pushing the agenda. For further info, see
chapter 4.1.5.