The current geopolitical landscape shows how vulnerable we are. We are witnessing a new unstable world and at the same time the climate crisis is becoming increasingly visible. The response to these converging and interdependent trends is deeper collaboration between policy and business in the Nordic region. The project Climate Neutral Nordic is a collaboration between business and policy to contribute to the vision in the Nordic region to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world in 2030.

As part of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision project, 40 Nordic business leaders representing companies with approximately 1.2 million employees across the globe were interviewed in 2021. The results stressed that Nordic business leaders are dedicated to the climate transformation and are asking for stronger collaboration with Nordic policymakers.

Many of the low-carbon solutions that will decrease our dependency on fossil fuels and material are already cost-effective compared to fossil solutions and will increasingly be so in the future. Scaling up low-carbon solutions requires further engagement and interaction between policy and business. This will lead to a reinforced societal process and a more competitive, inclusive and sustainable Nordic region. As a natural step of the study conducted in 2021, the Nordic Council of Ministers is granting the three Nordic business networks additional financing to deepen the relations between Nordic policymakers and Nordic business climate leaders. Collaboration in the value chains, skills development and circular business models are some of the themes which will be covered within the projects and led by the Swedish Haga Initiative:

– We need climate leadership from both policy and business in the Nordic region to succeed with climate transformation. We are stronger together, and with 27 million people in the Nordics we can play on our strength with clean energy, natural resources and democracy,” says Nina Ekelund, Executive Director, Haga Initiative (SE).

Norwegian Skift Business Climate Leaders will lead two projects, one in scaling innovations and one in leadership among Nordic business leaders.

– Green transition is the greatest challenge we are facing – also in the Nordic Region. The Nordic Council of Ministers has shown strong leadership by setting the Nordic vision of being the world’s most sustainable region. If we are to succeed in this, we have no time to waste and the whole of the Nordic region must move in the same direction. Innovation, collaboration and strong business leadership will be essential for us to succeed together,” says Bjørn Kj. Haugland, CEO, Skift Business Climate Leaders (NO).

The carbon handprint helps a company to develop products and services that allow its customers to reduce their carbon footprint.  The Finnish Climate Leadership Coalition will lead a project aimed at developing the carbon handprint so it can be used as part of the strategic planning and development process of the Nordic companies.

– It’s more important than ever to exit the fossil era. The dependency on fossil fuels will increase the risks for energy security in the future, and many of the low-carbon solutions that will decrease our dependency on fossil fuels and material are already cost-effective compared to fossil solutions and will increasingly be so in the future. The use of the handprint evaluation will highlight how Nordic business can deliver climate solutions worldwide,” says Jouni Keronen, CEO Climate Leadership Coalition (FI).

This report has been produced by the business networks Haga Initiative, CLC and Skift and financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

For more information, please contact

Sweden: Nina Ekelund, Executive Director, Haga Initiative, phone: +46735 022464, email:

Finland: Jouni Keronen, Chief Executive Officer, Climate Leadership Coalition, phone: +358504534881, email:

Norway: Bjørn K. Haugland, Chief Executive Officer, Skift Business Climate Leaders, phone: +4797687315, email: