7 nordic tales

8/7/2019 7 Nordic Tales

1/21

7 NORDICALES2009


2/21

3

07 Safeguarding the North Atlantic environment

06 New horizons for modern Nordic partnerships

04 Unwavering optimism turns creativity into business acumen

05 Nordic flavour to global climate process

02 Gender equality & climate change

03 Combating unemployment

01 High Five when cultural policy defies gravity7 Nordic Tales 2009

ANP 2010:720 Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen 2010

ISBN 978-92-893-2027-6

Editor-in-chief: Silje Bergum KinstenEditors: Karin Arvidsson, Michael Funch, Patrik Edman,Jesper Schou-Knudsen, Mats Holmstrm, Louise HagemannPhoto: Silje Bergum Kinsten: p. 4. Johannes Jansson: p. 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, 25, 26, 27,31, 32, 33, 36. Karen Beate Nsterud: p. 7, 18, 19, 38. Magnus Frderberg: p. 11, 25,32. Greenland.com: p. 12. Lennart Perlenhem: p. 15, 16. Grete Kodi: p. 21, 22, 23.Nordic Development Fund: p. 28, 29. Sveinn Speight: p. 32. Karl R Lilliendahl: p. 35.Environment Agency of Iceland: p. 37.

Translation: Tam McTurk

Print: Scanprint A/S, DanmarkLayout: Maria Lambert DesignCopies: 1000

Printed on environmentally friendly paperThis publication can be ordered on www.norden.org/order.Other Nordic publications are available atwww.norden.org/publications

Printed in Denmark

Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic CouncilStore Strandstrde 18 Store Strandstrde 18DK-1255 Copenhagen K DK-1255 Copenhagen KPhone (+45) 3396 0200 Phone (+45) 3396 0400

Fax (+4 5) 3396 0202 Fax (+45) 3311 1870

www.norden.org

Nordic co-operationNordic co-operation is one of the worlds most extensive forms of regionalcollaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and threeautonomous areas: the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and land.

Nordic co-operation has rm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It playsan important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating astrong Nordic community in a strong Europe.

Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principlesin the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its positionas one of the worlds most innovative and competitive.

N O R

D I S

K M I LJ M R K N

I N G

Tryksag541 006


3/21

5

The fact that world has never beenmore closely integrated means thatwe need to seek joint approaches tothe many challenges posed by theeconomic crisis, climate change and thesecurity situation. In response to thesechallenges, the Nordic Region seeksto nd common solutions to problemsthat know no national boundaries and tomake a joint impact on the world around us.

The Seven Tales in this report exemplifythe results achieved by Nordic co-operation in 2009. Each represents anexample of how the Nordic countrieswork together to promote safety, securityand development on all fronts, both inthe Region itself and elsewhere.

With regard to security issues (in thebroadest sense), the Nordic Council ofMinisters and Nordic Council helped

to promote dialogue and innovativethinking in 2009. Speci cally, thiswas done via work on a long-overduerisk map of the North Atlantic. Moregenerally, a report about closer co-operation on foreign policy by formerNorwegian Minister of Foreign AffairsThorvald Stoltenberg has generated agreat deal of debate among politiciansand others.

The Nordic Region has succeeded inhaving a gender-equality perspectiveincorporated into the internationalclimate agenda. In terms of socialconditions (in the traditional sense), theNordic countries advocate more open

societies, in particular emphasising theneed for mobility, a more robust andinclusive labour market and the removalof obstacles to cross-border freedom ofmovement.

Promoting understanding of the Nordiclanguages is also important. In 2010, theCouncil of Ministers will be responsiblefor a campaign to draw attention to co-operation on languages, an issue thatalso features prominently on the NordicCouncils agenda.

The Region also continues, in colla-boration with the creative industriesat Nordic and global level, to promoteNordic values, products and culturethrough campaigns around the world.This work involves conventional culturalpartnerships on lm and other art formsas well as linking creativity, innovation

and research with commercial initiatives.

The Seven Tales testify to a vibrant andforward-looking partnership that bodeswell for the future. They highlight ourability to make a positive contributionto a global community that has a majorneed for constructive and practicalsolutions, an approach exempli ed bythe way in which the Nordic Counciland Council of Ministers go about theirbusiness.

7 NORDIC ALES

President of theNordic Council 2009 Sinikka Bohlin

Minister for NordicCo-operation 2009Katrn Jakobsdttir


4/21

7

The Nordic Film & TV Funds newfunding scheme High Five doesfar more than just provide travelexpenses for Nordic lm. The resultof ve prime ministers determinationto defy the Regions gravity, it repre-sents cultural partnership on theoffensive.

Twenty-seven-year-old Susan Rissermay have felt slightly nauseous whenshe left the cinema in Toronto back inSeptember, but she was in no doubtthat her encounter with the bizarre andviolent Danish lmValhalla Rising wasworth every cent. What the young lmenthusiast didnt know was that she had just been part ofHigh Five Toronto, theNordic culture ministers charm offensivein Canada.

The Canadian metropolis, accustomedas it is to major lm events, formed theideal setting for the big push: the NordicFilm & TV Funds international launch ofthe new distribution-funding scheme forNordic lm, which provides internationaldistributors with access to a total pool ofno less than NOK 1.5 million.

The High Five concept was launchedas a completely practical initiative withtwin objectives: to boost sales of Nordic

lms abroad, which will raise revenuefor rights holders, and to ensure widerdistribution for Nordic lm, not leastfor the bene t of a global audience,explains Hanne Palmquist, CEO of theNordic Film & TV Fund.

The scheme is nanced by the NordicCouncil of Ministers globalisation pool,and represents one of the tangibleoutcomes of the prime ministersexpress desire to raise the internationalpro le of the Region and its culture.That is why Nicolas Winding Refnsmodern Viking drama had its world

premiere at the Toronto InternationalFilm Festival 2009. Although Canadian

lm buffs are used to the Festival havinga highly diverse programme, it wasnonetheless unusual to encounter amovie from a region whose lms arenot exactly renowned for lling cinemasin Toronto or anywhere else in North

America for that matter.

However, the evidence suggests thatHigh Five has had the desired effect,so Ms. Rissers positive experience isunlikely be a one-off.

Feedback indicates that the fundingconcept and the choice of Torontoas a launch pad made a signi cantinternational impact, says an enthu-siastic Hanne Palmquist. The NordicFilm & TV Fund is therefore alreadyworking on the next step now that ithas received a three-year grant from theCouncil of Ministers Globalisation Pool.

Palmquist, an experienced director, isfar from alone in her positive evaluation.Feedback from the international lm

High Five when cultural policy de es gravity

01

Hanne Palmquist

01 7 NORDIC TALESHigh Five when cultural policy defies gravity


5/21

FAC S

High Five is the name given bythe Nordic Film & V Fund toits distribution and promotioninitiatives.

High Five orontoHigh Five oronto 2009 was aglobal lm-distribution undinginitiative. Te pan-Nordiccampaign was initiated by theCouncil o Ministers and the

Nordic Film & V Fund.

Te aim was to acilitate thecinematic release o lms outsidethe Region. Te High Fiveinitiative is unded by the Councilo Ministers globalisation pooland the Nordic Film & V Fund.

Nordic High FiveTe Nordic High Five undingscheme provides additionalsupport or the distribution o Nordic lms within the Region.Te initiative is designed, amongother things, to help ensure thatcinema audiences have greateropportunities to see Nordic lms,and that the lms have accessto a larger potential market.Nordic High Five has a three-yearmandate.

In 2009, a total o approx. NOK2.5 million was allocated in grants.For urther in ormation, pleasere er towww.norden.org andwww.nordisk lmogtv ond.com.

r t o r

k : a u

l i l s o n

( y e l l o 1 . d k )

h o t o g r a

h y : H e l e n e

H a s e n

( r a f o r m a t . d

k )

o d e l : n n e - o f

i e H i n z

t y l i s t : L o u i s e

K e n

t * =

r o i m a t e l y

W W W. N O R D

I S K F I L M O G T

V F O N D. C O M

H i g h F i v e

T o r o n t o

2 0 0 9

N O R D I S K F I

L M & T V F O

N D S H i g h F i v

e P R O U D L Y

P R E S E N T S

T M

T h e s h o w c

a s e f o r u n i q

u e u p c o m i n

g n o r d i c r e g

i o n f i l m s

& l a u n c h o f

a n e w i n t e r n

a t i o n a l d i s t r i

b u t i o n s u p p o

r t s c h e m e

N o r d i c C o

u n c i l o f M

i n i s t e r s

industry reveals a strong desire for theinitiative to continue.

Were thrilled to be part of High FiveToronto, says Ryan Werner of IFC Filmsin the USA. At a time when foreign lmsare struggling in the marketplace, this isan incredibly smart and forward-thinkinginitiative that we hope other territorieswill also take notice of.

Richard Lorber, President of Kino Lorber,Inc. in the USA, agrees:

High Five has given an adrenaline shotto the indie art-house sector in the US,and provided a boost for Nordic lms.This funding makes us look more closelyat the output from Scandinavia. In fact,High Five is not just adrenaline butvitamins, too. It creates a healthierenvironment for the future of interna-tional lm in the US especially Nordiccinema.

Palmquist stresses that High Five hasalready produced tangible results.

Weve already provided grants to anumber of eminently quali ed interna-tional applicants. The feedback from awide range of international (and Nordic)players in the industry has convinced methat we have a very successful initiativehere in both cultural and commercialterms.

The sales companies calculate thatHigh Five has boosted sales by around30%, she added, commenting on theimportance of High Five to internationaldistribution. A distributor will nevertake on a lm solely because of 1020%funding for the total launch budget. Butit can tip the scales and encourage adistributor to take a risk and buy a moviethat he or she thinks might have achance in an otherwise ercely competi-tive market.

Palmquists analysis is backed up by an Asian distributor. There are so manygood Nordic lms, but the people inTaiwan are not too familiar with them,

so its always tough to market the lmsdespite their great quality, explainsdistributor Wayne Chang of Catchplayin Taiwan. From a nancial perspective,its sometimes a dilemma for distributorslike us to acquire these movies, as itshard to recoup the cost from the market.The grant will de nitely help, as it willenable us to educate the market aboutNordic lms. It will also mean that wehave many more opportunities to givethese lms a mainstream theatricalrelease. And, of course, theatrical-levelpromotion will bene t DVD, TV and

VOD, and increase the total sales of themovie.

The launch of High Five Toronto wasa milestone in the culture ministersoverall globalisation strategy. KatrnJakobsdttir, the Icelandic Minister ofCulture who doubles as Minister forNordic Co-operation and chaired theNordic Council of Ministers at the time,was proud of the presentation given on11 September during the InternationalFilm Festival.

High Five Toronto is part of an overallstrategy. The culture ministers seepartnerships as a particularly important perhaps the most important common denominator within theoverall framework of of cial Nordicco-operation, the minister explains.Nordic art and culture help to shapeand promote our values of creativity andquality in a global context.

For Susan Risser, the encounter withRefns new Viking action lm was alsoan encounter with a brand-new way ofpresenting part of Nordic history.

01 7 NORDIC TALESHigh Five when cultural policy defies gravity

Katrn Jakobsdttir


6/21

11

Climate change is hitting the womenof the South and the men of the Northhard. The death toll in the wake ofthe Asian tsunami of 2004 consistedof 7080% women, while melting

ice in the Arctic is endangering thetraditional livelihood of male hunters.Women and men have different CO 2 footprints, they are affected by theclimate in different ways and theirimpact on the climate varies. Withthis in mind the Nordic Region madeit a top priority to put the genderperspective on the internationalclimate agenda in 2009.

The goal was to have the genderperspective incorporated into the newUN climate treaty. Although many weredisappointed by the agreement reachedby world leaders at COP15 in December2009, partly because it is not legallybinding, the fact that the treaty makesseveral references to gender doesrepresent a Nordic victory.

We succeeded in getting references tothe gender perspective included in the

agreement, says rni Pll rnason, theminister responsible for gender equalityin Iceland, which held the Presidency ofthe Nordic Council of Ministers in 2009.Of course, we would have preferred theagreement to be legally binding but Imdelighted that weve taken this step inthe right direction. The Nordic Regionswork up until this point has laid a solidfoundation that we can build uponduring the next round of negotiations,hopefully achieving even more tangibleoutcomes.

Di erent impactClimate and gender issues are inter-related for several reasons. Women

and men affect the climate in differentways. For example, in the industrialisedworld, men drive more than womenso their CO2 emissions are greater.Men are estimated to account for 75%

of all driving in Sweden. Women, onthe other hand, often travel by moreenvironmentally friendly modes oftransport.

Another reason is that climate changeaffects men and women differently. Forexample, many more women than mendie in climate-related natural disasterssuch as ooding because they are lesslikely to be able to swim or climb a tree

A study by the London School ofEconomics concludes that genderdifferences in death rates connectedto natural disasters are directly linkedto womens economic and socialrights, Rebecca Pearl of the networkGenderCC Women for Climate Justicetold a Nordic panel at the UN WomensCommission Session in March 2009.

Climate change also has an impact on

men, e.g. losing their jobs in the wakeof climate-related natural disasters. The

02

Gender equality & climate change

rni Pll rnason

02 7 NORDIC TALESGender equality & climate change


7/21

consequences of climate change areamong their most obvious in the ArcticRegion, where traditional hunter-gatherercommunities have been profoundlyaffected by melting sea ice. The huntingseason has become shorter and thehunting grounds have shrunk, makinga traditional lifestyle more dif cult orimpossible.

Once the top of the social pyramid,hunters are now at the bottom becausetheir skills are less useful, MalinJennings, founder of Arctic IndigenousClimate Change Ethnographies (ICCE),explained during the debate on climatechange and gender equality in theNordic Council of Ministers of ces inCopenhagen in December 2009. Theyare no longer capable of serving as thesole breadwinner for their families, andthis creates social problems.

Skewed decision makingThe fact that the genders are affectedby and in uence the climate in differentways makes it imperative to promotegender balance in negotiations anddecision-making processes. Currently,women account for only 1520%of delegation leaders in UN climatenegotiations.

If decisions were made by both womenand men, and were based on therespective realities of their lives, needsand experiences, then the likelihood ofthe solutions reached protecting theinterests of wider sections of societywould increase. In particular, it wouldmean more environmentally friendlybehaviour and what bene ts the healthof the planet bene ts us all, the Nordicgender ministers concluded in a jointopinion piece in the Danish newspaperInformation in March 2009.

Incorporation of a gender perspectiveinto the new agreement represents astep in the right direction, towards amore gender-balanced climate policy.Whether future climate negotiations willresult in a legally binding agreementremains to be seen, but the Nordic focuson the gender perspective will continueunabated.

FactsWomen and men have very diferent carbon ootprints.Women and men are afected diferently by climate change.Women are rarely involved in decision-making processes, e.g. climate-change negotiations.Men use cars more o ten than women. Women use public transport more o ten than men.7080% o the casualties a ter the 2004 Asian tsunami were women.62% o women are willing to pay extra or climate- riendly products, compared to 54% o men.81% o women support climate labelling on ood and staple goods, compared to just 67% o men.

02 7 NORDIC TALESGender equality & climate change


8/21

15

The global nancial crisis hastriggered a surge in Nordicunemployment, especially among

young people, and the politicalfocus has turned to establishingan inclusive and sustainable jobmarket. The annual Session of the

inter-parliamentary Nordic Council inautumn 2009 sent a clear messageto ministers about how to achievethis goal.

It is absolutely essential that we identifytangible short- and long-term solutions.Otherwise, we run the risk of wholegenerations being lost, living a life ofexclusion, poverty, crime and substanceabuse, with greater susceptibility tohealth problems and lower qualityof life than others of the same agegroup. Multilateral Nordic partnershipscan provide solutions, says SivFrileifsdttir MP (Iceland) who chairsthe Nordic Council Welfare Committee.

The crisis has hit demand, productionand employment in many markets.The Nordic countries have all felt theimpact to varying degrees. In attemptsto safeguard the Nordic welfare model,the governments have suggestedvarious short-and long-term initiatives,based on national circumstances,to keep unemployment as low aspossible, address the problem of long-term unemployment and source thecapital needed for businesses andentrepreneurs.

Creating an inclusive and sustainableNordic labour market is a top priority forall of our countries, says Frileifsdttir,and our governments prioritise theprinciple of work for all. All the sectorsare focused on securing and creatingnew and sustainable jobs for the bene tof society as well as the individual.

Nevertheless, growth in youthunemployment is alarming a wholegeneration aged 1625 may be at riskof permanent exclusion from the labourmarket. Particularly vulnerable are youngpeople with disabilities, immigrants andother sub-groups who already faced

obstacles to entry into the workplace.This concerns the members of theWelfare Committee.

IndicatorsTo reverse this trend, the Nordic Councilhas called on ministers to developindicators for sustainable employment,much like the ones that already exist forenvironmental sustainability. They willbe used to monitor progress and informthe work of those involved in formulatingand following up on national policies forsustainable development.

Combating unemployment

03

03 7 NORDIC TALESCombating unemployment

Siv Frileifsdttir


9/21

17

FactsUnemployment in the Nordic Region (as % o the work orce):

Denmark: 4.4 (November 2009) Young people (1529): 10.4 (Q3 2009, Statistics Denmark)Finland: 8.5 (November 2009) Young people (1524): 21.1 (November 2009, Statistics Finland)Norway: 3.2 (November 2009, Statistics Norway) Young people (1624): 8.9 (November)Iceland: 8.0 (November 2009)Young people (1624): 16.1 (Q4 2009, Statistics Iceland)Sweden: 8.0 (November 2009)Young people (1524): 22.9 (November 2009, Statistics Sweden)

Further in ormation about working li e in the Nordic Region is availableat www.nordiclabourjournal.org.

03 7 NORDIC TALESCombating unemployment

The World Commission on Environmentand Development de nes sustainabledevelopment as: development thatmeets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of

future generations to meet their ownneeds (WCED, 1987). It is based onthree pillars: the economic, social andenvironmental, all of which need to be inplace at global level.

The Nordic countries need to askthemselves: Are we, as countries andas a Region, helping to steer globaldevelopment in a more sustainabledirection? Do fundamental threats tolong-term welfare exist in the Region?In order to answer these questions, theNordic Council believes that commongoals need to be set for sustainabledevelopment and that potential threatsto the Nordic welfare model need tobe identi ed, says Frileifsdttir, whorepresents the centrist Progressive Partyin the Icelandic parliament.

In her opinion, the primary focus ofan inclusive and sustainable labourmarket should be on exibility i.e.individuals should be able to remain inemployment throughout the differentphases of their lives, even as their needschange. Secondly, employment mustbe organised so that it does not makepeople sick, and workplaces must beinclusive so that the ill and people withdisabilities are able to remain in work andmake whatever contribution they can.

She also emphasises the importance ofpromoting freedom of movement in theRegion, especially in the social servicesand tax spheres, and of removingcurrent obstacles to the mobility ofstudents and job seekers.

The Region has enormouspotential to be a globalfrontrunner when it comes todeveloping innovative solutionsbased on human needs, sheconcludes.

The Nordic Council Welfare Committeehopes that the Council of Ministers willnow initiate the process of developingindicators for sustainable employment,so that future employment policyleads to greater inclusion and a moresustainable society.

The Nordic CouncilWelfare Committee

hopes that theCouncil of Ministerswill now initiatethe process ofdeveloping indicatorsfor sustainableemployment, so thatfuture employmentpolicy leads togreater inclusion anda more sustainablesociety.


10/21


11/21

21

04

04 7 NORDIC TALESUnwavering optimism turns creativity into business acumen

Unwavering optimism turnscreativity into business acumen

Every day, theyve had to proveits a real job, that theyre properbusinesswomen. But you wont hearany complaints from glass artists andunwavering optimists Anne-Liis Leht

and Kristi Ringkjob. Their company, Annkris-Glass, is now two-and-a-half years old, performing well nancially,and aiming even higher.

Getting started was tough. Aftergraduating from the Estonian Academyof Arts, Leht and Ringkjob had to makea decision. Would they follow the pathtaken by so many others and resignthemselves to lives as accomplishedamateurs? Or complement their artistictalent with business skills, a path rarelypreferred by creative types?

They chose the latter, rockier road. Yearone was frustrating. Leht jokingly asksRingkjob if she remembers the timethey went shopping for food and hadto put the essentials back when theyreached the checkout only to nd theyhad no money. In the early days, the newcompany directors ploughed all theirincome back into expensive equipmentand materials. Annkris-Glass has highstandards, using only top-quality rawmaterials (mostly from Germany) tocreate unique works of art.

Since the company moved into theTallinn Creative Incubator last autumn,the two artists have been completelyimmersed in the world of commerce they are now fully- edged creativeentrepreneurs. The Incubator providesa studio-like business environmentfor companies capable of generatingwelfare and jobs by creating and usingintellectual property. It has room for 23companies, including 4550 workplaces.

Similar institutions may well existelsewhere in the world, including in theNordic Region, but the Tallinn centreis unique. Most incubators place theemphasis rmly on creativity, but this

one is commercially oriented, providingcreative tenants like Leht and Ringkjobwith the opportunity to learn more aboutvarious aspects of business such asexport, sales and marketing.

Eva Leemet, who now works as projectmanager for the Estonian creative-economy portal Loov Eesti (CreativeEstonia), advising businesses from herbase at a new incubator in Tartu, alsohelped set up the incubator in Tallinn.

The chance to swap knowledge anddiscuss experiences is priceless,she says, as the topic turns to aninternational conference held in thecity in March 2009, which led tothe emergence of new political andproject-related networks, based on theprinciple that the creative industriesrequire synergies if they are to operateeffectively at a global level.

The conference was organised by theNordic Council of Ministers of ce inEstonia, in collaboration with, amongothers, the Estonian Ministry of Cultureand KreaNord an initiative thataims to meet the demand for a jointdevelopment and policy programme forthe creative economies of the Nordiccountries.

From survey to incubatorSupport from the Nordic Council ofMinisters allowed us to work on thestrategic level for a year and a half, saysRaul Orekin, a board member at theCreative Economy Centre in Tartu.


12/21

Surveys have shown that most artists inTartu are engaged in project work, whichmeans that they have no job security intheir specialist areas. They often lackeven the most basic knowledge abouthow to set up and run a company.Most of their work is sold via unof cialchannels, depriving the state of taxincome and the artists of social bene tssuch as health insurance, pensions,etc. The centre, which incorporates anincubator, opened last spring to addressthese issues.

The people actively engaged indeveloping the Baltic creative industriesstress the importance of exchangingexperiences and maintaining contactswith their Nordic counterparts. TheNordic Council of Ministers funded studytrips by Estonian of cials and experts toIceland and the Faroe Islands in 2009,for example. The Riga Meetings FilmIndustry Forum in October was alsosubsidised by the NordicBaltic MobilityProgramme for Business and Industry.It brought together 30 lm professionalsfrom Nordic and Baltic countries tonetwork, discuss projects, share bestpractices, explain problems and proposenew partnership models.

What next?Ragnar Siil, Head of the DevelopmentDepartment of the Estonian Ministry ofCulture, envisages many opportunitiesfor partnerships with Nordic countries,both in Baltic forums and in the EU:Both Estonia and the Nordic countriesare very small sh in the global pond,so our competitiveness depends onpartnerships.

A grant from the NordicBaltic MobilityProgramme for Business and Industrywill allow specialists from the Tartu

Creative Economy Centre to study thework done by their colleagues in Finlandand Norway and to organise a seminarfor partners from Turku, Tampere,Bergen, Uppsala, Riga and Klaipeda. It isenvisaged that the seminar will result inthe emergence of a network of creativecompanies from the Nordic and Balticcountries.

Annkris-Glass also has plans for thefuture Leht and Ringkjob are alreadyhard at work on their plans for 2011,which include re ning their creativeoperations and conquering the Nordicmarket.

Estonia de nes the creative industries as: architecture, audio-visual products, design, per ormance arts, in ormation technology,publishing, cultural heritage, art, music and advertising.Te creative industries are eligible or unding rom the joint NordicBaltic Mobility Programmes or Business and Industries[www.norden.lv] ; or Public Administration[www.norden.ee] ; andCulture[www.kknord.org] .

KreaNord is a multi-sectoral initiative designed to serve as a ocal pointor the experiences, knowledge and visions o the business and cultural

sides o the creative economy in the Nordic Region[www.kreanord.org] .

FAC S

04 7 NORDIC TALESUnwavering optimism turns creativity into business acumen


13/21

25

05

05 7 NORDIC TALESNordic flavour to global climate process

Nordic favour to globalclimate process

The major UN climate conferenceCOP15, held in Copenhagen inDecember 2009, has been describedas the most important internationalmeeting in history. With Denmarkhosting the conference and Swedenholding the Presidency of the EU, the

Nordic countries played a central role.They also worked together, e.g. viathe Nordic COP15 Group, to help steerthe process in the right direction.

However, the nal document, agreedafter intensive negotiations in the BellaCenter, was a disappointment to manyhoping for a more ambitious and legallybinding agreement. The Council ofMinisters established a Nordic expertgroup to work towards a successfuloutcome in Copenhagen. The COP15Group, as it was known, producedanalyses and organised meetingsbetween international negotiators toimprove understanding between thevarious parties.

The meetings organised by the COP15Group were useful and timely, andincreased understanding of climateprocesses among the participants,says Jane Ellis, an OECD climate analystwho attended one of the seminars inBangkok.

On the whole, the chair of the COP15Group, Olle Bjrk of the SwedishMinistry of the Environment, wassatis ed with its activities.In general, we succeeded in making apositive contribution to the negotiations,even if the agreement is not as good as

the Nordic countries and the EU wouldhave liked, says Birch. This was partlybecause neither the US nor China couldor would go far enough, and partly dueto the overwhelming complexity of theissue.

The Swedish Minister of theEnvironment, Andreas Carlgren, stressesthat urgent action is still needed as theprocess continues.

Negotiations need to restart as amatter of urgency, and we need toimplement measures that make attainingthe two-degrees target feasible. Thisinvolves two main tracks. The rst is tokickstart processes that will lead to alegally binding agreement at COP16 inMexico. The second is to stimulate andaccelerate the process of adaptation toa low-carbon economy that is takingplace around the world, says Carlgren,who stresses that the Nordic countriesare well placed to drive this processforward.

Andreas Carlgren


14/21

Ann-Kristine Johansson MP (Sweden),chair of the Nordic Council Environmentand Natural Resources Committee, wasdisappointed with the results of COP15.But we cant let that paralyse us, shesays. New steps have to be be taken,new efforts made towards COP 16. Theworld urgently needs a global MarshallPlan, which will probably require aninvestment of several hundred billiondollars a year.

Climate projects indeveloping countriesOne of the main bones of contention atCOP15 was the industrialised nationsfunding of climate measures in poorercountries. The Copenhagen agreementmay stipulate certain sums of moneyand timescales, but many consider theminadequate.

However, the Nordic countriesset a good example for COP15,demonstrating that it is possible for agroup of countries to band togetherand agree on joint climate investmentsin low-income countries by amendingthe statutes of the Nordic DevelopmentFund (NDF) so it is able to make directinvestments into green projects.

By the end of 2009, the NDF hadprovided grants of almost 18 millionto climate projects in Africa and Asia.The funding is being spent on solarpanels and water pumps in Uganda,energy projects in Laos, Vietnam andCambodia, creating a market for solarwater heaters in Rwanda, etc.We were delighted to commenceinvestment in climate-change initiativesin the worlds poorest countries, saysHelge Semb, Managing Director of NDF.In spring 2009, the Ministers for NordicCo-operation took the decision torevamp the NDF, despite the fact thatthe Ministers for Overseas Aid hadrecommended disbanding it just a fewyears earlier. Under pressure from theenvironment ministers and the NordicCouncil, the co-operation ministersdecided to keep the NDF very muchalive.

Jan-Erik Enestam, Director of the NordicCouncil, considers NDFs new mandateto be a hard-won victory for Nordic inter-parliamentary co-operation.Without pressure from the NordicCouncil, the outcome would surely nothave been the same, he says.

Nordic Climate DayIn the run-up to COP15, the NordicCouncil of Ministers held Nordic ClimateDay for schools throughout the Regionto promote partnership betweenteachers in the various countries and, inparticular, to enhance pupils awareness

of climate issues.

Nordic Climate Day was held on 11November. The ministers launched amajor SMS-based climate competition,which required pupils to nd creativeways to illustrate local problems usingtext, sound and pictures. They alsotook part in a climate-related generalknowledge quiz via SMS. Almost 4,000pupils in 150 schools throughout theRegion participated in the event andsome 500 proposals for climate teachingand input to the climate debate from theNordic and Baltic countries have nowbeen published onwww.klimanorden.org.

The young are the stakeholders anddecision-makers of the future. We mustget them involved in the climate debate,says Finnish Minister of EducationHenna Virkkunen.

The Council of Ministers worked closelywith national bodies to devise and runClimate Day and an evaluation revealedthat it was very highly regarded.The competition format proved reallygood for the pupils and the Nordicdimension was at the forefront, saysLea Houtsonen of the Finnish NationalBoard of Education. The schoolsalso received positive support fromresearchers at the universities, the WorldWildlife Fund, etc. All in all, we would liketo say a big thank you to the Council ofMinisters for organising Climate Day.

Nordic Climate Day is envisaged as anannual event.

Facts about the COP15 GroupTe Nordic COP15 Group began its work in 2008.It consists o climate experts rom all ve Nordic countries and the autonomous territories.Te group, appointed by the Nordic Ministers o the Environment, has had its mandateextended until winter/spring 2011.In the run-up to COP15 in Copenhagen, the group commissioned 10 studies and arranged31 meetings and seminars.

Facts about NDFTe Nordic countries development unding institutionNDF has been ofering so t loans to developing countries since 1989.Since 2009, NDF has also ofered donations towards climate projects.Projects normally receive between 500,000 and 4,000,000.NDF can grant unds to 27 countries in A rica, Asia and Latin America.Projects in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Uganda, Rwanda, Benin, etc. have already received grants.By the end o 2009, NDF had already allocated a total o almost 18 million to climate projects.NDF has also allocated unds to the Nordic Climate Facility, a unding programme or smallprojects, administered by NDF and the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO).

05 7 NORDIC TALESNordic flavour to global climate process


15/21


16/21

06 7 NORDIC TALESNew horizons for modern Nordic partnerships

9 February 2009 was a red-letter day in the history of Nordic co-operation.The Stoltenberg Report on futureNordic foreign and security policy co-operation was submitted to theNordic foreign ministers, sparking offa lively debate on the future of Nordicpartnerships.

New horizons or modernNordic partnerships

06

For the most part, Thorvald Stoltenbergs 13 tangible proposals for working togetin the Region were welcomed enthusiastically by Nordic MPs and governments.

The proposals refer rst and foremost to a partnership between the governmentson Nordic issues. However, as Stoltenberg himself points out inOne for all, all for one New Nordic defence policy? , If foreign and security policy become part ofthe vocabulary of Nordic co-operation, our partnership will become more relevanin relation to the world outside the Region. The new form of partnership will n

strengthen the Region itself, it will reinforce the Nordic contribution at internatiolevel.

Nordic partnership on foreign and security policy is more tangible and has widperspectives than ever before, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Stretold the annual Session of the Nordic Council in October 2009. He was referrinamong other things, to the fact that the Stoltenberg Report has elevated the Nordebate to a new level.

All of the Nordic countries were in agreement that it would make sense to incothe 13 proposals. The process has already been initiated, e.g. by jointly procurinsafety equipment for use in Kabul.


17/21

33

Johan Linander MP, Center Party (SWE) and member o thePresidium o the Nordic CouncilI see the Stoltenberg Report as an important step towards the renewal of Nordic co-operation. Foreign and security policy has for too long remained outside the remit ofour partnership. It is time that elected representatives in the Region understand theneed to work together on these issues in order to strengthen our Nordic voice in theworld. We are ve small countries, not strong global players on our own but when

we co-ordinate our efforts the Region actually is a force with which to be reckoned.

In principle, I would like to see all of the proposals in the Stoltenberg Reportimplemented. Some could be implemented relatively soon, while others are muchlonger-term projects. The important thing is that the Nordic prime ministers andforeign ministers push for their implementation and dont just let the report gatherdust on a shelf.

Sigrur Ingibjrg Ingadttir MP, Social Democratic Alliance(ICE), member o the Nordic Council Wel are CommitteeOur strength in the world at large is that, as small countries, we are able to act asmediators in international negotiations and on thorny political issues. This reputationis based on the Nordic countries strong democratic processes and their emphasison human rights. We need to protect this image. The Stoltenberg Report representsa highly ambitious vision of the future. I think the type of partnership it advocates isimportant in the sense that it will help us protect our environmental, economic andsecurity interests in the Baltic Sea and in northern and Arctic waters. At the sametime, we also need to strengthen our role as peace-promoting democracies thatstand for human rights. Research and innovative design will also continue to be ourmost important resources.

Per-Kristian Foss MP, Conservative (NO), member o thePresidium o the Nordic CouncilBasically, I favour implementing the proposals and making debates on foreign policymore binding on the Nordic Council. Some of the points in the report are alreadybeing worked on. Others are more long term, and following them up will requirestronger political will. The Nordic countries defence chiefs already do a great dealwhen it comes to identifying possible co-ordination bene ts.

On the part of the Nordic Council, it is important that we act as a driving force andadvocate proposals for better and more co-ordinated environmental and securitymonitoring of the North Atlantic and Arctic. I also think we should follow up on theidea of more Nordic embassies.

What do members o the NordicCouncil make o the report?

Torvald Stoltenbergs 13 suggestions:

1) Deployment unit or military and civil stabilisation2) Nordic co-operation on air surveillance over Iceland3) A Nordic marine area surveillance system4) A maritime deployment unit5) A satellite system or monitoring and communication6) Nordic co-operation on Arctic issues7) A competence network against digital attacks8) A disaster unit9) An investigative unit or war crimes10) Co-operation between oreign services (embassies, diplomats, etc.)11) Military co-operation on transportation, medical, training, materials, and exercises12) An amphibious unit13) A Nordic solidarity statement

Christina Gestrin MP, Swedish Peoples Party (FIN), member o the Presidium o the Nordic CouncilSecurity issues are multi-faceted. I liked the fact that the Stoltenberg Reportaddressed aspects other than just military and defence partnership. Stoltenberg saithat the worlds attention is increasingly directed towards the Arctic Region, andit is natural that the Nordic Region works together in that area. An important qis how we work more closely together on environmental issues, in order to prepand preferably prevent potential environmental disasters.

It is also important that the Nordic countries are actively involved in counteringthreats such as cross-border smuggling of weapons, drugs and, last but not leastpeople. Traf cking and other infringements of human rights constitute serioussecurity threats that require close attention and can only be combated on amultinational level.

Niels Sindal MP, Social Democrat (DK), member o thePresidium o the Nordic CouncilI would like to focus on three of the reports main proposals: closer co-operationdefence, the Arctic and diplomatic representation.

It is my rm belief that we will work more closely together in the future, incluareas into which politicians have previously been reluctant to be drawn. The unigeopolitical situation in the North Atlantic, the nature of Baltic co-operation andnumber of global hotspots make Nordic partnership on foreign and security policeven more natural, both politically and practically. It will be interesting to see wthe future holds, and what the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Couconsider to be signi cant in the development of our partnerships.

06 7 NORDIC TALESNew horizons for modern Nordic partnerships


18/21

35

A large oil spill would be catastrophicfor the biological diversity andsensitive marine areas of the North

Atlantic Ocean, so Iceland has takenthe initiative to invite its Nordicneighbours to help draw up a riskmap of the vast, pristine areas thatfall within the jurisdiction of Iceland,Greenland, Norway and the FaroeIslands.

Melting Arctic ice means that newshipping routes are opening up in theNorth Atlantic. Ships are able to plyroutes that were impossible only a fewyears ago. Traf c is increasing in theseareas, which increases the likelihoodof hazardous incidents and disastrousoil spills, and therefore the need forsurveillance and improved emergencyresponse capability.

Preparing or possiblecatastrophesAs the world is changing we haveto be prepared for the risks that wemay be seeing in connection with theconsequences of climate change. Andthe risk map is one very importantpart of that preparedness, saysSvands Svavarsdttir, Minister forthe Environment in Iceland, about theproject nanced by the Nordic Council ofMinisters.

Situated in the middle of the North Atlantic, Iceland relies heavily on the

shing industry. Its government invited

Greenland, the Faroe Islands andNorway to help collate information onthe sensitive marine areas that stretchfrom the southern part of Greenland tothe North Pole, and from the east coastof Greenland to the west of Norway.The nal product will identify potentialenvironmental catastrophes in theocean in order to prepare the requisitecontingency responses.

Firstly, it will cover nature,sensitive and important areas,wildlife, biology and so on, saysSvavarsdttir.

Secondly, it will cover risk factorslike possible pollutants, marine traf c,offshore activities, shipwrecks anddrainage. And nally, it will identifypossible responses. Who can respondand how?

A Nordic responsibilitySvavarsdttir emphasises the fact thatthe North Atlantic Ocean is a part of theNordic Region, and that nobody is betterequipped than the Nordic countries tounderstand the Arctic and respond toemergencies in this area. For this reason,the risk map is included in the NordicCouncil of Ministers environmentalprogramme.

The risk map will be ready towardsthe end of 2010, and will be madeavailable on the Internet. It is primarily

07 7 NORDIC TALESSafeguarding the North Atlantic environment

Sa eguarding the North Atlanticenvironment

07Svands Svavarsdttir


19/21

aimed at politicians, the Coast Guard

and those taking responsibility foremergency responses, but it will also beavailable to the general public. Bird- andwhale-watchers may nd it particularlyinteresting.

Once it became evident thatimprovements were needed regardingthe monitoring, retention and cleaningof pollution, the Icelandic CoastGuard (ICG) strived to make new toolsavailable. A new, multi-purpose vesselwill be delivered this year, equipped withpollution detection, detention and clean-up gear, as well as storage tanks forpolluted seawater.

The risk map will be a very useful tool forthe ICG.

The risk map will assist us inresponding to potential threats, makingit possible to minimise or hopefullyeliminate damage to the most sensitiveareas, says sgrmur L. sgrmsson,Commanding Of cer at ICG. It will alsoassist in the planning and organising ofmissions and help us to get the mostuse out of our equipment (e.g. aircraftand vessels). This will make these assetsmore cost-effective than if there wasno risk map or comparable documentavailable.

Hopefully the Icelandic Coast Guard willnever have to use its new equipmentto detain pollution and oil spills, but therisk map means that the Nordic Regionwill be better prepared to protect thevaluable North Atlantic Ocean.

Te risk map will assist usin responding to potentialthreats, making it possibleto minimise or hope ullyeliminate damage to themost sensitive areas, says sgrmur L. sgrmsson

07 7 NORDIC TALESSafeguarding the North Atlantic environment


20/21

39

www.norden.org

Te Nordic Council o Ministers

The Council of Ministers (NCM) is the forum for formal co-operation betweenthe Nordic governments. However, informal consultation and exchanges ofinformation also play a key role in Nordic activities.

The purpose of the NCM is to promote Nordic co-operation, the collectiveNordic identity and Nordic interests in the world at large. Decisions are reachedby consensus.

A separate Council of Ministers co-ordinates work on each topic upon whichthe countries have agreed to collaborate. The Prime Ministers have the ultimateresponsibility for the NCM but in practice the responsibility is delegated tothe Ministers for Nordic Co-operation and their representatives, the NordicCommittee for Co-operation. They are aided in all their work by Committees ofSenior Of cials and by the Council of Ministers Secretariat.

Facts about the Nordic Council o Ministers and the Nordic Council

Te Nordic Council

The Nordic Council (NC) is apolitical forum for co-operationbetween Nordic parliamentariansand their governments. The NCholds a plenary Session once ayear, at which parliamentariansmeet with Nordic ministers. Therest of the year, the work of theCouncil is done by ve permanentcommittees and the Presidium.

The NC takes initiatives on anddiscusses political issues. Itsuggests the direction in whichNordic co-operation shouldprogress, and monitors whetherthe governments comply withits decisions. The NC worksin many policy elds, e.g. theenvironment, social and healthpolicy, culture, education andtraining, children and youngpeople, business, gender equality, justice, international co-operationand welfare.

Te NCM currently consists o the ollowingCouncils o Ministers:

FinanceHealth and Social AffairsTrade, Energy and Regional PoliciesFisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and ForestryThe EnvironmentGender EqualityCulture

Legislative AffairsEducation and ResearchLabour and the Working EnvironmentThe Nordic Committee for Co-operation


21/21

0 0 0

Store Strandstrde 18

DK-1255 Copenhagen K www.norden.org

7 nordic tales

Documents