Dagfinn Høybråten

The Nordic Prime Ministers have an important message to the world: We can achieve the UN 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if we work together, because “Together We Are Stronger”. This is the motto of the Nordic co-operation, and this mindset is what the world needs to overcome the global challenges of our time. The Prime Ministers seek to contribute to global sustainability goals by offering the strongest common Nordic experiences and solutions.

This week Prime Ministers Bjarni Benediktsson (Iceland), Stefan Löfven (Sweeden), Juha Sipilä (Finland), Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Denmark) and Erna Solberg (Norway) launched the initiative Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges. Through this initiative, the Nordic governments are working together to drive progress toward the UN 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Nordic Prime Ministers seek to contribute to global sustainability goals by offering the strongest common Nordic experiences and solutions.

Our belief is that we can make a difference

The aim of the initiative is to contribute to developing more sustainable societies and living conditions globally, and to make already existing Nordic solutions known to and accessible for the rest of the world. This initiative will present Nordic knowledge of green transition, gender equality at work and sustainable food and welfare solutions.

One of the basic ideas is to use the Region as an example of the fact that sustainable development does not need to get in the way of economic growth. By mobilizing political experts, researchers, private stakeholders and the Nordic embassies, export councils and international stakeholders, the various projects will feed the demand for Nordic sustainability policies and products.

The idea is to share Nordic experiences with other countries, especially the growth economies. We want to enter into dialogue and partnerships with other regions, share our good solutions with them and get to know about theirs.

– Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges will be an effective tool in Nordic work to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, says Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway and chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2017.

Making  already existing Nordic solutions known and accessible

The three-year initiative involves six flagship projects, spanning sustainable town planning, regional energy co-operation, investments in gender equality, sustainable food production, smart welfare- and climate solutions –-and addresses several of the 17 Agenda 2030 SDGs.

We believe that the initiative can increase global awareness of the ability and willingness of the Nordic countries to take the lead in solving some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.

Our strong belief is that we can make a difference – The Nordic countries together with the rest of the world. The Nordic Prime Ministers seek to contribute to global sustainability goals by offering the strongest common Nordic experiences and solutions.

To learn more about the initiative, follow the hashtag #NordicSolutions or visit our website Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges.

Dagfinn Høybråten
Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers

Categories:

Secretary General's Blog