Improving the use of existing buildings is central to addressing housing needs, reducing emissions, and strengthening resource efficiency.
Across the Nordic region, policy development, practical tools, and built examples show that renovation, reuse, and adaptation are viable and scalable alternatives to some demolition and new construction.
Across the five strategic action areas, the examples from the Nordic region show how authorities and stakeholders are working with a combination of stronger data foundations, enabling regulation, economic incentives, and practice-driven innovation.
Together, these approaches help facilitate a more resource-efficient and climate-conscious development of the built environment.
While solutions must reflect national and local contexts, the shared direction is clear: making better use of existing buildings is both a necessity and an opportunity.
Continued cooperation and knowledge exchange across the Nordic region will be essential to accelerate this transition in the years ahead.