This report has been commissioned by the Nordic Working Group on Environment and Economics (NME). The report has been prepared by a consortium led by Demos Helsinki in cooperation with Norion Consult and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. The study takes as a starting point the shortcomings with GDP as a measure and indicator of our wellbeing.
A literature study to identify the available welfare indicators is included in the report. Based on this screening three indicators were chosen for further analysis. The chosen indicators were: The Sustainable Development Index, Transitions Performance Index and Doughnut Economy Indicators. The performance of the Nordic countries was examined based on these three sustainability indicators. Somewhat surprisingly, the Nordics are not top performers with regard to sustainability in contrast to the generally outstanding performance when it comes to societal wellbeing. All Nordic countries face challenges in terms of reducing their ecological footprint.
Members of the Nordic Working Group for Environment and Economy have provided comments and inputs to the report during the work. The authors of the report are responsible for the content as well as the assessments and recommendations, which do not necessarily reflect the views and the positions of the governments in the Nordic countries.
The main results of the report have already been communicated at the COP 29 in Baku in November 2024.
November 2024
Magnus Cederlöf
Chair of the Nordic Working Group for Environment and Economics