Norden Environmental Action Plan 2009-2012

A large number of environmental challenges exist that must be faced in cooperation – at national, regional and global levels. These challenges are primarily climate change, the use and discharge of hazardous chemicals, protection of marine ecosystems and protection and utilisation of biological diversity. The cooperation between the Nordic countries needs to be enhanced to optimise the utilisation of available resources and find joint solutions in the Nordic region. The Nordic countries have an ambition of making the Nordic region a pioneer region in the environmental area and sharing their experience with others. This Environmental Action Plan covers the years 2009–2012 and manages the environmental cooperation realised within the Nordic Council of Ministers. The plan sets the strategic course for Nordic environmental efforts. The Nordic cooperation rests on the principles of Nordic utilisation, meaning that the countries cooperate in areas where they can increase results or save resources compared with the situation where they act alone. The cooperation may focus on dividing tasks or cooperating in an agreed direction. Based on this principle, the environmental cooperation during the period 2009–2012 focuses on the following themes: • Climate and air • Sea and coastal regions • Biological diversity and ecosystem services • Sustainable consumption and production.