The Nordic welfare states have long been pioneers of sustainable development, working systematically with related policies, strategies and action plans which have laid a robust foundation for implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This trajectory enables the region creating even more sustainable, green, and socially responsible societies today. In 2022, the global Sustainable Development Report (formerly known as the SDG Index and Dashboards) was again topped by Nordic countries, with Finland, Denmark and Sweden forming the top three.

However, the Nordic countries still have some way to go in order to reach the SDGs by 2030.  Figure 1 shows that while the countries are performing positively on many SDGs, progress has stagnated somewhat compared to previous years. SDGs 1 – No poverty, and 7 – Clean energy, are areas where all the countries are performing well. Interestingly, when it comes to SDG 13 – Climate action, none of the countries show any noticeable progress; the same also applies to unsustainable consumption and production trends related to SDG 12. Major or significant challenges also remain when it comes to SDG 2, Zero hunger (linked to obesity and extensive agriculture), 15 Life on land, and 14 Life below water (both linked to biodiversity loss from extensive fishing, forestry and other factors). Even when it comes to promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies and strong partnerships that form part of SDGs 16 and 17, overcoming barriers is an ongoing challenge. 

Figure 1. Overview of the Nordic countries’ SDGs status reflecting that while countries are making progress, some stagnation can be observed in relation to several goals compared to previous years. Adapted from Sustainable Development Report 2022.

Finland tops the global index and continues to take the lead in action on sustainable development, reflecting a consistent national commitment that take environmental considerations into account. Finland is on track to achieve five SDGs (including SDG 1, 4, and 7) but significant or major challenges for seven others (including the most challenging ones, SDG 12 and 13). The country also performs better than most of its Nordic neighbours on the spillover score

Countries are ranked by their spillover score. Each country's actions can have positive or negative effects on other countries' abilities to achieve the SDGs. The Spillover Index assesses such spillovers along three dimensions: environmental & social impacts embodied into trade, economy & finance, and security. A higher score means that a country causes more positive and fewer negative spillover effects.

(Source: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/rankings/spillovers)

at 73.63/100, reflecting that Finland’s actions have more positive effects on other countries' abilities to achieve the SDGs than negative ones.

In 2022, Denmark ranked second in the global Sustainable Development Report and has spillover score at 66.23/100. The country is on track to achieving eight SDGs, but significant or major challenges remain for four goals (including Goal 12 and Goal 13). Plans to accelerate action is reflected in Denmark’s second action plan that was presented in 2021 and updated with 15 new SDG policy initiatives.

 

Sweden also continues to be a leading implementer of the 2030 Agenda with its increased efforts on internal revision and progress reporting in close collaboration with the EU, in addition to having appointed a national Agenda 2030 co-ordinator until 2024. The country ranks third in the Sustainable Development Report in 2022 but also contributes to considerable negative spillover effects with a score of 65.7/100.

Norway ranks fourth globally and has more recently been stepping up its multi-stakeholder engagement, which includes the establishment of an Executive Forum on the SDGs. The country is currently on track to achieving six goals (including SDG 1, 5 and 17). Major obstacles are evident across seven SDGs, and like its Nordic counterparts, considerable action must be taken with regards to SDGs 12 and 13. Norway’s spillover score is at 61.7/100 points, suggesting that the country has even more negative spillover effects than Sweden.

Iceland will be the only Nordic country to submit a voluntary national review to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2023. In conjunction with this, the country has recently introduced several structural changes and appointed a new Sustainability Council and platform called Sustainable Iceland. The country is ranked 22^nd in the Sustainable Development Report, a position that may be tied to its spillover score at 51.4/100 points, indicating that the country has the most negative environmental and social impacts on other countries of all the Nordics. Iceland is on track to achieving five SDGs, including SDG 1, 10, 16, but in addition to the major challenges tied to SDG 12 and 13, SDG 15 – Life on Land, is also an area the country will have to address.

 

“Looking to the Nordic countries, there is much to be learned from campaigns on the SDGs and broad initiatives to convey these issues to the general public.”

 

The autonomous regions of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland are not part of the international comparisons in the Sustainable Development Reports, but nevertheless continue to accelerate Agenda 2030 efforts, demonstrating that Nordic goals, ambitions, and accomplishments will require context-specific measures and commitment from all communities and stakeholders involved. Åland has consistently reported on its seven-pronged sustainability strategy and now focuses efforts on international outreach and sharing good practice. Greenland published a comprehensive national mapping in 2021 of all the SDG work done to date, in addition to having hosted a large international youth conference in the capital, Nuuk, in August 2022, which focused on developing SDG solutions for the Arctic context.

 

Overall, much work remains to be done by all countries in the coming seven years to keep the Nordic Region on track toward a sustainable future. Yet, what remains evident is that cooperation will strengthen Nordic efforts. This was also pointed out in Greenland’s SDG reporting, reminding us that “Looking to the Nordic countries, there is much to be learned from campaigns on the SDGs and broad initiatives to convey these issues to the general public.” The most recent voluntary national reviews and related action plans nevertheless reflect an ongoing commitment to the 2030 Agenda. In the following chapters, we will learn more about the national efforts that are behind the statistics and index scores.