The Nordic countries have long been at the forefront of environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Since the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, the region has been a wellspring of globally influential ideas about climate and sustainability. This legacy is evident in initiatives like Sweden's introduction of the world's first carbon tax in 1991 and Denmark's pioneering role in wind energy technology. NordRegio reported in 2023 that 71% agree that climate change is a serious our very serious problem and about half of all respondents agree that more public resources should be spend to address it even if that entails raising taxes.
The Nordic region, often perceived as a haven of environmental stability, is increasingly grappling with the tangible impacts of climate change. Recent years have seen a surge in extreme weather events. Devastating forest fires have swept through Sweden and Norway. Unprecedented floods have inundated coastal areas and river basins across Denmark and Finland, while severe droughts have strained agricultural systems, affecting thousands of farmers and threatening food security. These events are not isolated incidents but part of a growing pattern that underscores the region's vulnerability to global climate shifts.
All Nordic countries are signatories of the Paris Agreement, and in order to fulfill their commitment, Nordic countries aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990. The Nordic Council of Ministers has developed a vision to transform the Nordic Region into “the most sustainable and integrated region in the world” (Nordic Council of Ministers 2021).
However, despite this progressive history, the Nordic region is not immune to the global challenges of polarization, misinformation, and climate denial. Norway's identity as both an oil producer and environmental leader creates policy contradictions (Lahn 2019). The rise of populist parties in Denmark, Sweden and Finland renowned for their green initiatives, has faced internal debates about the pace and scale of climate action, with some groups advocating for slower transitions to protect certain industries (Vihma 2021). Some groups now use climate issues as a wedge to distance themselves from established political parties, essentially turning climate into a matter of identity politics. Rather than outright denial seen elsewhere, populist parties in the Nordics often frame climate concerns as alarmism, portraying climate action as exaggerated or unnecessary. They frequently claim that climate policies will severely harm the economy, using these economic impact narratives to oppose action.
The Nordic countries must also confront their historical and current contributions to global emissions. As early industrializers and, in some cases, significant fossil fuel exporters, these nations bear a disproportionate responsibility for the cumulative greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. This legacy of emissions has far-reaching consequences, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities in the Global South.
These challenges highlight the complex interplay between environmental leadership and socio-economic realities in the Nordic countries. They also underscore the ongoing need for diverse stories and reaching diverse audience groups to address misconceptions, bridge ideological divides, and support climate action in the region. Nordic filmmakers are dwelling in these dynamics between the region's environmental aspirations and its political realities. The effectiveness of film as a medium for climate communication in the Nordic countries is enhanced by the high levels of trust in media characteristic of the region. The Reuters Institute Digital News Report (2021) indicates that Nordic citizens generally have more faith in their media sources compared to many other parts of the world. This trust amplifies the potential impact of climate-focused films, allowing them to shape public opinion and potentially influence policy decisions.
The Climate Story Lab Nordic 2023/2024 was founded on the need to broaden and deepen climate storytelling in the Nordic region. It was also designed to address the need to work strategically and collaborative on how to reach specific audiences with specific stories to create deep changes to address the climate crisis. Our aim was to discover and support narratives that reach diverse audiences and embrace the complexities of our climate reality – the paradoxes, contradictions, and controversies, as well as the resilience, creativity, and passion found in Nordic communities.
We understand that effective climate narratives must go beyond simple messaging to explore the nuanced realities of our changing world. The selected projects reflect this ambition. As we move forward, we hope the Climate Story Lab Nordic can serve as a catalyst for a new wave of climate narratives – ones that are as multifaceted and dynamic as the issue itself.
References
Nordregio, Carlos Tapia, Nora Sanchez Gassen, and Anna Lundgren. ‘In All Fairness: Perceptions of Climate Policies and the Green Transition in the Nordic Region’. Nordregio, 15 May 2023.
Lahn 2019. Norwegian petroleum policy in a changing climate. CICERO Report
Vihma, A. et al. 2021. A Climate Backlash: Comparing Populist Parties’ Climate Policies in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. The Journal of Environment & Development 30, no. 3