Nordic-Baltic Sustainability Conference 2024 will be a one-day event that will include an intensive programme of discussions, working groups, development of the conference statement and action plans. We explore significant obstacles to achieving the UN SDGs in societies with the growing need to reduce overconsumption as it has a huge environmental and climate footprint. Additionally, we will discuss society’s contributions to achieving Fair Green transition and Empowerment of sustainable change. As a follow-up, we will propose activities related to the promotion of a sustainable lifestyle and other crosscutting themes, networking and collaborations.
This international gathering will include an international conference, working groups, workshops, a culture programme, and several other side events for Individuals, government and NGO officials, and the private sector.
At this conference, we aim to empower CSOs and increase knowledge about the importance of achieving the UN SDGs and the need to reduce overconsumption, as it has a huge environmental and climate footprint. The conference will be a constructive exchange of views, as well as the development of a joint statement on fair green transition. It will also include a message for the key decision-makers, stakeholders, and community leaders who will be implementing the green transition in practice.
The target group consists of Nordic-Baltic NGO representatives, Government Officials, Educational institutions (Universities), Community leaders, field networks, Individuals, government and private sector representatives, researchers, youth and student professionals, and others.
.The conference will foster debate on three questions:
- How to reduce overconsumption and integrate sustainable lifestyle choices and valuable digital tools into community life
- Contributing to the Fair Green transition and Empowerment of sustainable change at the local level through engagement and work with the community, administration, and business sectors.
- What is the role of CSOs and other institutions in building the green future of the Nordic-Baltic region?
and based on the following key points:
– Learn and Empower
– Participate and delibarate
– Decide and make a change.
Conference results:
• Gained newskills and knowledge and shared experience on thecapacity building of CSOs andthemes of all SDGs and contributed to a green transition, responsible consumption, climate change, gender equality, digital society and tools of goodgovernance and sustainable welfare.
• A reinforcement of the cooperation between CSOs, vulnerable groups and interestedstakeholders from Nordic and Baltic countries.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
3rd of March 2024, ARRIVAL DAY
- All day arrival in Reykjavik, Iceland
- Meeting with host and Icelandic CSO representatives
- Accommodation in 201 Hotel and dinner at 18.00 pm (TBA)
4th of March 2024, CONFERENCE DAY (Venue TBA)
7.00 – 8.00 Breakfast at 201 Hotel
8.30 – 9.00 Transportation to the venue and registration
9.00 – 9.10 Welcoming words and overview of the project timeline
9.10 – 9.30 Keynote speech “How do we encourage just and efficient green transition in Reykjavik” – by the representative of the City of Reykjavik (TBC)
9.30 – 9.40 Keynote speech “Let’s Create a Greener Future by engaging start-ups and communities” – by the representative of the Icelandic Startups (KLAK.IS) or Íslandsstofa (TBC)
LEARN AND EMPOWER
9.40 – 10.40 “How to reduce overconsumption by integrating sustainable lifestyle choices and useful digital tools into community life”
– Vassili Golikov, Programme Director of SSCW, Estonia
– Janne Rajala, President of Green Habito RY, Finland
– Ásta Þórdís Skjalddal, PEPP, Iceland
– Alejandra Adventure, Compass Denmark
10.40 – 11.00 Coffee time
11.00 – 12.00 Green transition and Empowerment of sustainable change at the local level through engagement and work with the community, administration, and business sectors
– “Estonian CSOs experience in green transition and government, community and business engagement” German Morris, Peace Child Estonia
– Swedish experience in sustainable development goals achievement by working with Mälmo City and community members” – Iulia Halangescu, IKF Mälmo coordinator (Sweden)
– “Norwegian youth contribution for sustainable change and green transition” – Vivienne Bach, UNGORD, (Norway)
– “Danish young people vision on green transition and citizens empowerment” – Nicko Sunny Tandrup, Sunny Society (Denmark)
– Representative of the City or business representative (Iceland)
12.00 – 13.00 “What is the role of CSOs in building the green future of the Nordic-Baltic region”
– Mathias Nikolai Berg, OEU, (Norway)
– Alejandra Adventure, Compass Denmark
– Paraskevi Devreli, IKF Mälmo
– Laura Maria Rajala, Femina RY
13.00 – 14.00 LUNCH
PARTICIPATE AND DELIBERATE
14.15 – 15.00 Working groups: Development of conference statement
15.00 – 16.00 Working groups: Development of local action plans and collaboration projects within the network for 2024-2026.
DECIDE AND MAKE A CHANGE
16.00 – 16.15 Presentation of the conference statement and local action plans/ Network project for 2024-2026.
16.15 – 16.30 Summary of the conference and the project
18.30 – 20.00 Dinner in the city
5th of March 2024, VISITING NGOs and getting to know Icelandic green solutions
- Conference conlusion
- Study Vitis and partner meetings with various organisations, community members, and officials/business representatives to learn more about Icelandic experience and best practices.
Conference is organised in cooperation with Nordic – Baltic SDGs Platform “Green Habito” and Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare; co-financed by Nordic Council, the city of Reykjavic, Estonian National Foundation of Civil Society.