Norway, Finland,

and Sweden
Alec Walter, Connor Urcuyo,
Kiana Rahni, and Sarah Jones
Presentation Outline

Impact Climate Change

Climate Change Adoption & Art &
Overview of Climate & Indigenous
Contributions Mitigation Activism
Change Peoples
 Climate Impact Climate Change
Adoption & Art &
Overview Change of Climate Mitigation
& Indigenous
Activism
Contribution Change Peoples
Sweden and Norway Contributions to Climate Change
Norway: 98% renewable energy - 97% from hydropower, 1% from wind
● Indirectly contributes to climate change by being economically dependent on oil
● They ship their oil to other countries only for those countries to burn it and add
carbon to the atmosphere

Sweden: 54% of energy consumption comes from renewable energy

● Energy production - 50% hydroelectric, 35% nuclear power, 10% wind power, 4.5%
biofuel, 0.5% other
● Aims to be 100% carbon neutral by 2040, but is currently 8-10 years ahead of
schedule

Even though both of these countries have close to 100% renewable grids, their industries,
farming, and international travel make up the rest of their carbon emissions.
Finland Contribution to Climate Change
Finland: wood (26% of total consumption), oil (23%), nuclear (18%), coal (9%), gas
(7%), hydropower (5%) and peat (5%)
● The vast majority of their energy consumption is from non-renewable sources
● Finland does not have its own Petroleum supply and relies 100% on importing
it from other countries: 64% Russia, 11% Denmark, 11% Norway, 15% Other -
UK, Algeria, Kazakhstan (Motivia)
● Currently about 40% of their total energy consumption comes from
renewable sources
● The energy sector accounts for 80% of Finland’s carbon emissions, the rest is
from industry, transportation, and other sources
Take-away from Contributions to Climate Change
● These countries are making strong progress to becoming
100% carbon neutral
● Their electric grids are nearly all on track to be renewable
and they have remaining carbon emissions from
industries, farming, and other sectors
● In order of current success toward preventing climate
change I would rate them in the order of Sweden, Norway,
Finland
 Climate Impact Climate Change
Adoption & Art &
Overview Change of Climate & Indigenous
Mitigation Activism
Contribution Change Peoples
Climate Change Trends
● Annual temperature increase → warming

● Seal level rise

● Ice and permafrost melting

● Increased evaporation from oceans

● More frequent and extreme weather events

 (O'Brien, Eriksen, Sygna, & Otto Naess, 2006)
(Mittenzwei, Persson, Höglind, & Kværnø, 2017)
(Wright, et al., 2017)

Agriculture in Norway, Finland, & Sweden

Physical Events Effects on Agriculture Effects on Economy

● Increase in mean annual ● Longer growing season ● Possible increased

temperatures individual farmer profit
● Improved crop yield
● Frequency of rain ● Less job security in
increased compared to ● Erosion and nutrient agriculture
snow in winter deficiencies in soil
● Less food security
● Longer duration of time ● More uncertainty with
between rain events growing season ● Fewer export options

● Crop suitability changes*

Norwegian salmon populations are also largely threatened by all of these factors,
especially vegetation growth and thus nitrogen level changes in water
Boreal Forest in Finland & Sweden
● Increased precipitation
■ Increased growth
■ Change in fertility and thinning timing

● Increase in drought frequency Timber

■ Spruce death & loss of biodiversity industry
■ Forest fires affected
● Season temperature variation
■ Spruce regeneration stunted
■ Spruce and pine withdrawal to north

(Koca, Smith, & Sykes, 2006)

(Zubizarreta-Gerendiain et al, 2015)
Avalanches in Western Norway
Increased precipitation in
Rock movement
winter*

More frequent and severe Erosion AVALANCHES

rainstorms
Debris in streams
Snow cover variation*

Peak avalanche season will most likely shift to later in the winter (February),
transportation systems and pathways could be largely affected, and tourism pull may
decrease as a result.

Avalanches + debris can lead to

flooding and water
contamination. (Laute & Beylich, 2018)
Human Health in Norway, Sweden, & Finland
● Loss of biodiversity and traditional
lifestyle
○ Decline in mental health
(especially indigenous peoples)
● Shift towards western diet*
○ Risk of obesity, cardiovascular
disease, diabetes ● Severe storms and melting ice
● Warmer waters and regions in winter ○ Injury and death
○ Parasitism and disease ○ Water and food sanitation/security
transmission* ○ Food spoilage*

(Parkinson & Evengard, 2009)

 Adoption &
Mitigation

Climate
Climate Impact
Adoption & Change & Art &
Overview Change of Climate
Mitigation Indigenous Activism
Contribution Change
Peoples
Policy Adaptations: Norway
● Parliament Act pledged to become climate neutral by
2030, passed 2016
● Reaction to a decision to up fossil fuel production in
fragile areas.
● Wording was left intentionally
vague
● Opponents criticize the
necessary technology.
 Norway continued

● Norway currently has enacted no recent, significant legislation to combat

climate change.

● They enacted another plan in early 2017, but the actual laws that would
make a difference don’t have nearly enough actual influence.

● Norway contributes to up to 3 degrees Celsius

above the pre industrial average.
Policy Adaptations: Finland
● The National Climate Change Act, 2015

● Has a lower expectation for carbon

cutdowns, only 80% by 2050.

● The legislation gives the government very specific areas to restrain, as

opposed to the actions taken in Norway.

* ● The attitude in the entire government

appears to stimulate action
● They extend the call to Finnish businesses,
and discussed a carbon tax
Policy Adaptations: Sweden
● Sweden has been leading the charge against
climate change since the problem first came to
national attention.

● They produce less than 0.2% of carbon emissions worldwide.

● They plan to reduce emissions by 40% in 2020, and completely

carbon neutral by 2040. They have a strict plan to achieve this.

The European Union as a whole is in about the same place as

Norway. However, Finland and Sweden are doing better than most
other countries. The EU makes climate suggestions for its countries
so that they can improve their habits.
 Climate
Climate Impact
Adoption & Change & Art &
Overview Change of Climate
Mitigation Indigenous Activism
Contribution Change
Peoples
Arctic Peoples & Climate Change in Scandinavia
Key Terms:
Sápmi: The area home to the Sami that extends across four
countries.

Sameby: a reindeer herding community; also the geographical area in

which the community is entitled to pursue reindeer husbandry.
Scale & Scope <4% live in Russia

10% live in Finland

50-60% of Sami People

live in NORWAY
Distribution of
Sami People

30-40% live in
Sweden

You can determine which region a Sami member comes from by the kolt (traditional Sami clothing) they are wearing.
The Types of Issues Faced: Reindeer Husbandry
“Climate change is most … rain and mild
intensive in the Arctic weather during
Climate change caused Reindeer are vital
where… reindeer-herding the winter season
by carbon pollution from to the culture,
Sámi live in close often prevents
fossil fuels produced by subsistence and
interaction with reindeer from
Finland, Sweden, & economy of Saami
nature and where accessing lichen,
Norway, and other communities
the natural conditions which is a vital
countries
are changing quickly…” food source...
(Jaakkola)

Almost 10,000 are involved in reindeer husbandry

Mental & Physical Health & Climate Change
“Half of Sami adults in Sweden…. suffer from anxiety and depression”

“... climate change does not only influence the environment for the Sámi.
Rather, it directly affects culture in a population that has had its identity and
culture previously targeted and attacked…”

“... Climate change also introduces new diseases to Sápmi, the Land of the
Sámi – both for reindeer and people... allergies and asthma as well as
mortality from cardiovascular diseases are going to increase.”
 Climate
Climate Impact
Adoption & Change & Art &
Overview Change of Climate
Mitigation Indigenous Activism
Contribution Change
Peoples
 ART: Britta Marakatt-Labba: Climate Refugees
● Medium: Embroidery (Reindeer skin)

● Subjects: Revolts, fires, migration

● Focus: Climate refugees and changing landscapes

ART: Norway & Architecture
Norway is fighting Climate Change with Energy-Positive Architecture
● Due to Norway’s long and dark winters, buildings use far more
energy than in other countries
● Making an Energy-Positive Architecture is extremely difficult
when buildings use so much energy
● This has resulted in an extremely innovative architecture style
that is practical
Activism by Swedish Teen, Greta Thunberg
● Thunberg is a 16 year old girl who has been speaking up in her home
country and beyond.

● “we can’t change the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have
to be changed."

● As a high schooler, she has initiated

international school walkouts

● She travels the world giving speeches

that encourage action against climate
change.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Policy Recommendations
1. Keep us accountable for our exported fossil fuel usage & nudge us into
finding other sources for social initiatives that are not fossil based

2. Incorporate indigenous knowledge, specifically written reports, into future

policy and evaluation of policies

3. Consider a discussion around carbon taxes

Thank You
 Works Cited
Martin, Amy. “The Arctic's Sámi People Push for a Sustainable Norway.” Public Radio International, PRI,
“Climate Action Tracker: Norway.” Climate Action Tracker. 3 December 2018,
www.pri.org/stories/2018-11-05/arctics-s-mi-people-look-sustainable-norway.
https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/norway/

Mittenzwei, Klaus, et al. “Combined Effects of Climate Change and Policy Uncertainty on the Agricultural
Corbett, Jessica. “Teen Climate Activist to Crowd of Thousands: 'We Can't Save the World by Playing
Sector in Norway.” Agricultural Systems, vol. 153, May 2017, pp. 118–126.,
by the Rules Because the Rules Have to Change'.” Common Dreams, Common Dreams,
doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.01.016.
20 Oct. 2018,
www.commondreams.org/news/2018/10/20/teen-climate-activist-crowd-thousands-we-
Motivia. Motivia. 13 September 2016. 4 March 2019.
cant-save-world-playing-rules-because-rules.
<https://web.archive.org/web/20160913095104/http://motiva.fi/en/energy_in_finland/energy_us
e_in_finland/final_consumption_of_energy>.
Cord, David. “Finnish Climate Summit Acts as a Platform for Real Change.” Sitra,
www.sitra.fi/en/articles/finnish-climate-summit-acts-platform-real-change/.
Muurman, Jarmo. “National Climate Change Policy.” Environmental Agreements | Ministry of the Environment,
www.ym.fi/en-US/The_environment/Climate_and_air/Mitigation_of_climate_change/National_cli
Crofts, Robert. The Sami - an Indigenous People in Sweden. Sami Parliament, 2005.
mate_policy.
Finnish Forest Association. Finnish Forest Association. n.d. 4 March 2019.
Neslen, Arthur. “Norway Pledges to Become Climate Neutral by 2030.” The Guardian, Guardian News and
<https://smy.fi/en/forest-fi/forest-facts/forest-based-energy/>.
Media, 15 June 2016,
www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/15/norway-pledges-to-become-climate-neutral-b
Haugan, Bjørn-Erik. Technology as a Driving Force in Climate Policy. Cicerone, 2005.
y-2030.
Jaakkola, J.J.K., Juntunen, S. & Näkkäläjärvi, K. Curr Envir Health Rpt (2018) 5: 401.
O'Brien, Karen, et al. “Questioning Complacency: Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation in
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-018-0211-2
Norway.” Ambio, vol. 35, no. 2, Mar. 2006, pp. 50–56.
Koca, Deniz, et al. “Modelling Regional Climate Change Effects On Potential Natural Ecosystems in
Oskar Aanmoen. “Queen Sonja Highlights Sami Art in New Exhibition in Queen Sonja's Art Stable.” Royal
Sweden.” Climate Change, vol. 78, no. 2-4, Oct. 2006, pp. 381–406.,
Central, 8 Feb. 2019,
doi:10.1007/s10584-005-9030-1.
royalcentral.co.uk/europe/norway/queen-sonja-highlights-sami-art-in-new-exhibition-in-queen-
sonjas-art-stable-115149.
Laute, Katja, and Achim A Beylich. “Potential Effects of Climate Change on Future Snow Avalanche
Activity in Western Norway Deduced from Meteorological Data.” Geografiska Annaler,
vol. 100, no. 2, Feb. 2018, pp. 163–184. A, doi:10.1080/04353676.2018.1425622.
Works Cited cont.
Parkinson, Alan J, and Birgitta Evengard. “Climate Change, Its Impact on Human Health in the Arctic and the Public Health Response to Threats of Emerging Infectious Diseases.” Glob Health Action, vol. 2,
Nov. 2009, doi:10.3402/gha.v2i0.2075.

Schreiber, Melody. “Suicide Stalks Reindeer Herders in the Land of Midnight Sun.” STAT, STAT, 9 Dec. 2016, www.statnews.com/2016/12/09/suicide-sweden-sami-mental-health/.

Suoninen, Inger-Elle. “Study: Sámi More Vulnerable to the Impact of Climate Change than Before.” The Independent Barents Observer,
thebarentsobserver.com/en/ecology/2018/11/study-sami-more-vulnerable-impact-climate-change

Swedish Energy Agency. Energy in Sweden - Facts and Figures 2012. 30 January 2012. 4 March 2019.
<https://web.archive.org/web/20150924000607/http://www.energimyndigheten.se/Global/Engelska/Facts%20and%20figures/Energy%20in%20Sweden%20facts%20and%20figures%202012%2
0(2).pdf>.

“Sweden Tackles Climate Change.” Sweden.se, Sweden.se, 5 Oct. 2018, sweden.se/nature/sweden-tackles-climate-change/.

Swedish Government. Sweden.se. n.d. 4 March 2019. <https://sweden.se/society/energy-use-in-sweden/>.

“The Swedish Government's Climate Initiatives – Three Years into the Electoral Period.” Regeringskansliet, www.government.se/articles/2017/10/the-swedish-governments-climate-
initiatives--three-years-into-the-electoral-period/.

UN RIC. “The Sami of Northern Europe – One People, Four Countries.” Responsibility to protect, UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe,
www.unric.org/en/indigenous-people/27307-the-sami-of-northern-europe--one-people-four-countries.

Wright, Richard F, et al. “Effects of Multiple Stresses Hydropower, Acid Deposition and Climate Change on Water Chemistry and Salmon Populations in the River Otra, Norway.” Science of The Total
Environment, vol. 574, Jan. 2017, pp. 128–138., doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.044.

Zubizarreta-Gerendiain, A, et al. “Effects of Climate Change on Optimised Stand Management in the Boreal Forests of Central Finland.” European Journal of Forest Research, vol. 134, no. 2, Mar. 2015, pp.
273–280.