The city of Mariehamn and the Nabben wetland is one of the 6 nominees for the Nordic Council's environmental award 2022. A wetland close to the city that benefits both water quality, biological diversity and the city's residents. A total of six projects have been nominated for the environmental award, which this year focuses on nature-based solutions. The winner will be announced on 1 November in Helsinki in connection with the Nordic Council session. The winner receives the prize statuette Nordlys and 300,000 Danish kroner.
The Environmental Prize is awarded annually by the Nordic Council, and is given to a Nordic organisation, business activity or person who has succeeded in an exemplary way in integrating respect for the environment in their business or in their work, or who has otherwise made an extraordinary contribution to the environment. This year's nominees also include eelgrass planting in Denmark, re-establishment of drained wetlands in Iceland, Sweden's oldest existing UNESCO biosphere reserve and a voluntary association that restores rivers and streams in Finland.
Nature is a fundamental prerequisite for all human activity. Our forests, open countryside, parks, oceans and other ecosystems are linked to global warming, energy supply, water supply, food production, urban planning and health. In the environmental debate, protection, preservation and enhancement of nature has often been seen as a challenge with a social or economic side, but it doesn't have to be that way at all. Nature-based solutions not only enhance the environment and biodiversity, they can also be planned to create social, cultural and economic value. Therefore, this year's theme for the Nordic Council's environmental award is nature-based solutions, and today the nominees were announced at a seminar on nature-based solutions in the Nordic House on the Faroe Islands.
The nominees for the Nordic Council's Environmental Prize 2022 are:
- Mariehamn city for the Nabben wetland (Åland)
- Sound Vejle Fjord (Denmark)
- Virho Stream Water Care Association (Finland)
- Louise Lynge (Greenland)
- Wetland sea urchin - The Icelandic Wetland Fund (Iceland)
- Kristianstad Water Kingdom (Sweden)
The winner of the Nordic Council's environmental award 2022 will be announced on November 1 in Helsinki in connection with the Nordic Council's session. The winner receives the prize statuette Nordlys and 300,000 Danish kroner.
This year's theme
The theme for 2022 is “Nature-based solutions – a versatile response to the major environmental challenges facing society”. The point is to draw attention to the fact that nature and how we manage it can help provide versatile solutions to biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, facilitate effective climate adaptation measures in urban environments and enhance human health and well-being.
Nature-based solutions support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14 about life below water and 15 about life on land. They also help promote progress towards (3) good health and well-being, (6) clean water and sanitation, (9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, (11) sustainable cities and communities and (13) climate action.
Nature-based solutions is one of the priorities stipulated in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision for a green Nordic Region.
About the Nordic Council Environment Prize
The Nordic Council Environment Prize was first awarded in 1995 with the aim of raising awareness of work on the environment in the Nordic Region. Anyone can submit nominations. The prize goes to a company, organisation or individual in recognition of exemplary efforts to integrate consideration for the environment into their business or work, or for some other form of extraordinary environmental initiative. The winner receives DKK 300,000.
The Nordic Council Environment Prize 2022 will go to a company, organisation or individual for exemplary work that promotes biodiversity, addresses climate change and involves nature-based solutions.