A Green and Gender-Equal
Nordic Region

Commitment by the Nordic Council of Ministers^{[1]The commitment is endorsed by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Gender Equality and LGBTI on 10 March 2022 and Nordic Council of Ministers for Cooperation on 28 june 2022.} under Generation Equality's Action Coalition: Feminist Action for Climate Justice

Footnotes

^ The commitment is endorsed by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Gender Equality and LGBTI on 10 March 2022 and Nordic Council of Ministers for Cooperation on 28 june 2022.

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. It threatens people’s livelihoods, homes, food security, health, as well as access to clean air and water. All communities are affected by changing ecosystems and environments. And so, all countries must step up their work to solve the climate crisis, while also recognizing that countries, communities and different groups of people are afflicted in different ways.

The Nordic countries are committed to working towards carbon neutrality.^{[1]Nordic Prime Ministers and Nordic Ministers of Environment (endorsed on 25 January 2019) Declaration on Nordic Carbon Neutrality.} The region will act to reduce its sizeable environmental footprint and to create carbon neutral societies.

Reaching gender equality is likewise a priority for the Nordic countries, which have been cooperating in this field at the Nordic level for over 45 years. The region has been, and continues to be, dedicated to achieving inclusive and equal societies for all women, men and gender-diverse people. However, gender gaps persist in the Nordic region.

When it comes to the interconnections between climate action and gender equality, a Nordic study shows that climate policies have been lacking sufficient and actionable gender equality insights.^{[2]Lander Svendsen et al. (2022) How climate policies impact gender and vice versa in the Nordic countries. Nordic Council of Ministers.} Research also shows that climate change is a major challenge for women and men living the Arctic and for younger generations across the Nordic region.^{[3]Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (2021) Pan-Arctic Report, Gender Equality in the Arctic, Phase 3. Arctic Council & Sustainable Development Group.} ^{[4]Neergaard and Ravnbøl (2019) Nordic Youth as Sustainable Changemakers: In the transition to sustainable consumption and production. Nordic Council of Ministers.}

The gender perspective must be embedded in climate action to strengthen the effectiveness of green transition initiatives within the labor market and the energy, transport, construction, and food-producing sectors. This includes promoting equal access in decision-making processes on climate action to gain the important contributions of underrepresented people and women in their wide diversity, as experts, decision-makers, consumers, carers, educators and stakeholders.

The Nordic Council of Ministers will, in line with Our Vision 2030^{[5]Nordic Cooperation Ministers (endorsed on 23 November 2020) The Nordic Region – towards being the most sustainable and integrated region in the world: Action Plan for 2021 to 2024.} of becoming the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030, seek to advance learning and advocacy on how climate action is strengthened by promoting gender equality. In this way, climate change adaptation and mitigation policies can become fully successful and long lasting.

Footnotes

^ Nordic Prime Ministers and Nordic Ministers of Environment (endorsed on 25 January 2019) Declaration on Nordic Carbon Neutrality.
^ Lander Svendsen et al. (2022) How climate policies impact gender and vice versa in the Nordic countries. Nordic Council of Ministers.
^ Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (2021) Pan-Arctic Report, Gender Equality in the Arctic, Phase 3. Arctic Council & Sustainable Development Group.
^ Neergaard and Ravnbøl (2019) Nordic Youth as Sustainable Changemakers: In the transition to sustainable consumption and production. Nordic Council of Ministers.
^ Nordic Cooperation Ministers (endorsed on 23 November 2020) The Nordic Region – towards being the most sustainable and integrated region in the world: Action Plan for 2021 to 2024.

External Advocacy Commitment

In 2022-2024, the Nordic Council of Ministers commits to: promote international cooperation, alliances and advocacy on the interconnections between climate action and gender equality, and to develop and share knowledge on:

How the Nordic region works to ensure inclusive green jobs and educational opportunities, focusing on reducing the vertical and horizontal gender-segregation in the labor market, especially in STEM^{[1]Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.} education and employment.
How the Nordic governments are working to ensure and strengthen the representation, empowerment and influence of women in all their diversity in climate change decision-making and action at all national and international levels.
How the Nordic region works to transition to sustainable consumption, including analyses of different consumption patterns by men and women.
How the Nordic region works with sex-disaggregated data related to climate action and CO2 emissions.
How the Nordic region works with gender analysis in climate policy design.
How the Nordic region works with gender budgeting for climate policy measures.
How the Nordic region works to gender mainstream climate policy in a structured way.

Internal Policy Commitment

In 2022-2024, the Nordic Council of Ministers commits to: advance gender mainstreaming within green transition initiatives throughout the organization by implementing “Nordic Council of Ministers policy for mainstreaming sustainable development, gender equality, and a child rights and youth perspective”^{[2]Nordic Cooperation Ministers (endorsed on 23 June 2020) Nordic Council of Ministers policy for mainstreaming sustainable development, gender equality, and a child rights and youth perspective.} as a key tool towards reaching the Nordic vision of becoming the world’s most integrated and sustainable region by 2030.

Footnotes

^ Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
^ Nordic Cooperation Ministers (endorsed on 23 June 2020) Nordic Council of Ministers policy for mainstreaming sustainable development, gender equality, and a child rights and youth perspective.

Endnotes

[1] The commitment is endorsed by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Gender Equality and LGBTI on 10 March 2022.

[2] Nordic Prime Ministers and Nordic Ministers of Environment (endorsed on 25 January 2019) Declaration on Nordic Carbon Neutrality.

[3] Lander Svendsen et al. (2022) How climate policies impact gender and vice versa in the Nordic countries. Nordic Council of Ministers.

[4] Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (2021) Pan-Arctic Report, Gender Equality in the Arctic, Phase 3. Arctic Council & Sustainable Development Group.

[5] Neergaard and Ravnbøl (2019) Nordic Youth as Sustainable Changemakers: In the transition to sustainable consumption and production. Nordic Council of Ministers.

[6] Nordic Cooperation Ministers (endorsed on 23 November 2020) The Nordic Region – towards being the most sustainable and integrated region in the world: Action Plan for 2021 to 2024.

[7] Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

[8] Nordic Cooperation Ministers (endorsed on 23 June 2020) Nordic Council of Ministers policy for mainstreaming sustainable development, gender equality, and a child rights and youth perspective.

About Nordic Co-operation

Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, economics and culture and plays an important role in European and international forums. The Nordic community strives for a strong Nordic Region in a strong Europe.

Nordic co-operation promotes regional interests and values in a global world. The values shared by the Nordic countries help make the region one of the most innovative and competitive in the world.

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