Nordic-Baltic Sustainability Conference 2024

Titled: “Empowering CSOs and Communities for Sustainable Change: building the green future of the Nordic-Baltic region”
Bolholt 6, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland 3-6th March 2024 

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: 

  1. How to reduce overconsumption and integrate sustainable lifestyle choices and valuable digital tools into community life
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Bolholt 6, 105 Reykjavik,
Contact person: Laufey Olafsdottir mobile +3546966957)

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 “Turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities: Green and Just transformation” by H.E. Ambassador Samcová-Hall Allen, Delegation of the European Union to Iceland

9.30 – 9.50 Keynote speech “How do we encourage just and efficient green transition in Iceland” by the Auður H. Ingólfsdóttir, Director of Climate and Circular Economy Department, Department for Climate and Circular Economy, The Environment Agency of Iceland                                                       

9.50 – 10.00 Keynote speech “Let’s Create a Greener Future by engaging start-ups and communities”  by the Ásta Sóllilja Guðmundsdóttir, Executive Director of KLAK Icelandic Startups

LEARN AND EMPOWER
10.00 – 10.45 “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
– Laufey Líndal Ólafsdóttir, PEPP, Iceland
–  Alejandra Adventure, Compass Denmark
10.45 – 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)

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 (Sweden)
– Laura Maria Rajala, Femina RY (Finland)
– Ylva Sóley Thorsdottir Planman, North youth (Iceland)

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 at the hotel.
  • Study Vitis and partner meetings with various organisations, community members, and officials/business representatives to learn more about Icelandic experience and best practices. (Meetings with
     Sustainability Institute at the University of Iceland,  Festa – Center for Sustainability, UNA Iceland, PEPP etc)

Conference is organised by Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare in cooperation with Nordic – Baltic SDGs Platform “Green Habito” and its partners; Conference is co-financed by Nordic Council.

PRACTICAL INFO FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
Arrival day is 3rd March and departure is 6th March
The main conference day is 4th of March 2024
Working language: English.
Conference Venue: Bolholt 6, 105 Reykjavik (please contact Laufey +34 6966957)
Accommodation: 201 HOTEL – KOPAVOGUR, Hlíðarsmári 5, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland
Organisers are covering for the international participants (accomodation 3-5th March  and food (arrival day dinner, conference day lunch and dinner)
Logistics are oganised by the local host PEPP, (please contact Asta, +34 8686086)
We will be able to accept only two representatives from organisation/institution or individuals who registered on the conference in the system