The processes and structures for SDG implementation show that the Nordic countries each have their respective strengths and challenges. The ways in which national priorities and strategic plans have been put in place and how progress is monitored vary, as does the interaction between government, parliament, and societal actors. What is increasingly noticeable is the effort to improve stakeholder engagement, and there is an increasing data collection consistency on part of the national statistics agencies that have been given responsibility for following up on national SDG indicators. This work is also reflected in the voluntary national reviews, which make the reporting even more comprehensive in scope. Table 1 shows an overview of the types of reporting in each country at the different levels of governance.

Table 1. Overview of the Nordic countries national and local level reporting to the UN High-Level Political Forum as of 2022.

Nordic regional and local leadership remain key 

Considering that two thirds of the SDG targets can only be reached by involving local and regional actors, the efforts of these actors have increasingly been pushed up the Nordic sustainability agenda but need to be further encouraged. Here, the co-ordinating role played by the Nordic local and regional associations (LRAs) is a significant factor in enhancing and sustaining capacity for Agenda 2030 localisation. Through knowledge sharing events and activities within and across the Nordic countries, regional and local level participation continues to demonstrate best-practice cases and know-how. In short, Nordic cities and municipalities are increasingly integrating the SDGs into their strategies and planning tools across sectors. Innovative practices are being developed and tested to engage citizens, civil society, and businesses in reaching the goals, which in turn contributes to implementation at national and global levels.

Nordic co-operation places emphasis on youth involvement across all dimensions and programmes, including instigating constructive dialogues with civil society, the business community, trade unions and scientists about SDG implementation. This is, in principle, to ensure that young people are entrusted with more responsibility in decision-making processes that concern them. Ultimately, it will be the coming generation that will have to deal with the sustainability problems of the future and bear the brunt of any shortcomings that may occur now. The people of the Nordic Region and Europe are making considerable demands for a closer focus on the SDGs. The Nordic countries are certainly well on their way in this regard, this is reflected in the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) Index, which tracks inequalities in the areas of poverty, services, gender, and income where a higher score reflects that fewer population groups are being left behind. Still, all the Nordic countries face obstacles when it comes to fully integrating young people into decision-making on sustainability issues. Another remaining challenge is the widening income gaps.

Sustainable development has long been a top priority for Nordic co-operation. The Nordic prime ministers have set out a vision of the region becoming the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. They have urged the countries to work together more ambitiously and faster than ever.

This places considerable expectations on the Nordic Region, but if it is not accomplished, what would that say about the challenges ahead beyond 2030? With this overview, where, how and why should the Nordic countries step up its efforts, and what will it take in the years that are left? As SDG action needs to accelerate, bridging research and policy will increasingly be important to prepare for a post-2030 Agenda. Meanwhile, let’s keep in mind the quote by Nelson Mandela that Sweden included in its 2021 VNR, “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.