A global shift to a more sustainable diet is needed to reduce the major impact that food production has on our planet. Right now the global food system is responsible for 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time a third of all the food produced is wasted. Can we rethink what we eat and where it comes from? Can technology offer new solutions? And can the latest Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, which combine dietary advice with environmental considerations, contribute to this? In this episode, food industry innovators and experts try to predict what responsible ..read more

Clothing production has doubled worldwide over the last 15 years and has today a huge negative environmental and social footprint. The global fashion industry is not only the third most polluting industry, responsible for 8-10 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, but it’s also notorious for low wages and poor working conditions. Without a significant shift in how we produce and consume clothing, the planet and people will continue to pay the price for our love for fast fashion. What can we do to achieve a more Earth-friendly clothing industry? In this episode, we hear from forward thinkers ..read more

Imagine a picture-perfect future where clean energy projects have replaced damaging non-renewable energy sources. With many of the new green projects being built all over the world, we are slowly approaching this goal. However, while massive wind farms and solar panel parks are being built, there is a pressing issue to be addressed. What about the Indigenous people living in often remote areas where these projects take place? Too often, they are not considered or even asked for their opinion. In this episode, we explore the crucial role of Indigenous communities in the green transition. From t ..read more

Do you sometimes wonder if the world is making progress on reaching the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Are we succeeding in securing a better and more sustainable future for the planet and future generations? Now is a good time for a status update - the goals were agreed in 2015, so we are already halfway to the deadline of 2030. In this episode, we take a closer look at the goals chosen by the United Nations' 193 member states. How far have we come? Are we on track to transform the world in the next few years? And what does the future hold beyond 2030? This episode comes from a Nord ..read more

The war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis shocked Europe into realizing the risks of relying on imported gas and oil. As a result, many countries, including the Nordics, are asking themselves how they can become more self-sufficient and speed up the transition to locally produced renewable energy. In this episode, we take a closer look at how to increase energy security. How can the Nordics and other countries build on their existing renewable energy resources? How can a country like Japan, with no tradition of using green energy, get started? And how can countries work together to we ..read more

What happens when a country that has lived in peace for decades needs to defend itself? While governments may be able to obtain military hardware quickly, many forget the equally vital role played by civil defense. In this episode, we examine the importance of involving civil society in resisting threats – whether there is a military threat or threats in the form of natural disasters or pandemics. How do you organize civil defense, and create solidarity and engagement in a society? In short: How do you build a resilient society, one that is prepared to weather any storm? This episode comes fro ..read more

The different neighborhoods, and their unique atmosphere, is what makes cities across the world so interesting. However, there is a pitfall to this uniqueness, as it can end up creating further division between neighborhoods. Especially when residents have less and less contact with others due to the physical infrastructure of the city. In this episode, we look at how we can create common ground in our cities. We look at fresh ideas from the Nordic cities of Aarhus and Malmö, and we ask how city planners and architects can influence the mental state of the inhabitants of our increasingly diver ..read more

Reading, writing, and arithmetic. These are the essential skills that children learn in schools around the globe. But the world is changing rapidly and children will need additional skills to help them tackle pressing issues such as inequality and the climate crisis. In this episode, we explore how we best can equip and prepare our children for the future. What skills and knowledge do our children, and their children again, need to become engaged citizens striving for a fair, green, digital, and peaceful future? And what can you and I do to support young people and society on this journey? Thi ..read more

Hurricanes, floods, and drought. These extreme weather events are hitting the world's poorer countries more and more often due to climate change - much of which is caused by richer countries. But in the future, developing countries will receive compensation for this damage. Work is under way to set up a worldwide fund to provide financial assistance. It's called the "loss and damage" fund and was agreed upon at the latest UN climate conference, COP27. In this episode, we look at what it will take to implement this agreement. How can countries such as those in the Nordics ensure the money neede ..read more

Has the outbreak of war a year ago destroyed any hope of dialogue between ordinary Russians and Ukrainians? Or is there still an opportunity for peace, understanding, and trust through dialogue in the future? In three special episodes of the Nordic Talks podcast, we let people talk to people. Can we create dialogue? How can we facilitate the process of creating peace in Europe? And where are we now, a year after the beginning of the war? Olga Johannesson and Andreas Fløistrup facilitate the discussions. In this episode, we meet Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen from Ukraine and Daria Wagner from Russia ..read more