8.30

Registration and mingling at Luleå Kulturhus

9.00

Musical performance by Swedish-Sami artist Maxida Märak 

A captivating blend of rap, yoiks, and powerful electronic beats, Swedish-Sami artist Maxida Märak opens Nordregio Forum 2024. Known for blending her own unique genre, where her Sami heritage is always in the spotlight, Maxida’s music tells a proud story of resistance and resilience. 

09.15

Introduction to Nordregio Forum by conference host Mattias Goldmann 

09.30

Keynote – The Nordic countries, affluence and the low-carbon illusion by Dr. Jukka Heinonen, University of IcelandSSAB   

Hugely affluent, consumeristic societies, producing only a fraction of all the goods and services traded within their borders. From a climate perspective the Nordic countries ‘outsource’ an important share of the emissions they drive. Their residents also heavily consume outside their borders by travelling extensively. This seems contrary to our image as forerunners in climate change mitigation. What is the core problem behind this paradox? Jukka Heinonen will guide us through the flaws in the official and unofficial emission assessments. 

10.15

Panel discussion – Climate Neutral Cities – is it actually possible? Moderated by Mattias Goldmann  

As cities around the Nordic region set ambitious climate goals, the question remains: Is it actually possible for them to achieve climate neutrality? This panel dives into the realities of meeting environmental targets, exploring both the benefits and the trade-offs that cities face in their journeys to reduce emissions. Are cities getting the support they need, and how are local governments balancing short-term priorities with long-term visions that require massive planning? These are our panelists: 

• Henrik Børsting Aagaard, Plan & Energi, Vejle Municipality, Denmark 
• Mika Uolamo, City planning architect, City of Oulu, Finland  
• Karhinen Santtu, The Hinku Network, Finland 
• Susanna Bruzell, Sustainability strategist, Lund Municipality, Sweden 
• Carina Aschan, Project manager at Viable Cities, Sweden 

11.15

Coffee break 

11.50

Research talks:

11.50

Discontent and the polarization of green progress by Carlos Tapia, Senior Researcher at Nordregio 

What drives some people to oppose the sustainable shift and why is discontent growing in certain regions? Tax hikes, jobs losses and fuel cost surges – these are balancing acts we tend to forget in the green transition. Find out who pays the highest perceived price for the changes and why that matters. 

12.10

Is the green shift leaving rural workforces behind? by Elin Slätmo, Senior Researcher at Nordregio   

Picture miners, steelworkers, farmers, and electricians powering the future: building bio-gas plants, installing offshore wind farms, and leading carbon capture efforts. Are rural workers being left behind in the green transition, or are they essential to steering it? This presentation explores how labour markets are adapting or falling behind to the green shift in what society demands.  

12.30

The toll of tourism: Unpacking social disruptions by Ágúst Bogason, Senior Researcher at Nordregio 

Between 2010 and 2023, Iceland’s tourism exploded by 375%, with Greenland aiming for similar growth. While economic gains are clear, the toll on the environment is clear, but the local community is suffering as well. This project uncovers the risks of chasing short-term tourism growth at the expense of long-term well-being. Can we build a future where tourism thrives without compromising the health of our societies?  

12.45

Debunking the cycling myths holding us back by Lisa Rohrer, Researcher at Nordregio 

Contrary to the progress made in most other sectors, emissions from domestic transportation have increased since 1990. Do we need new technology to solve today’s problems? What if a solution to some of our greatest challenges is sitting right in front of us, locked up to the fence outside? We will debunk common myths about the role of the bicycle to see how this early 19th century invention can do than we might assume.  

13.00

Lunch

14.00

Study trips in Luleå and Boden focusing on private and public adaptions to match the booming green investments in the North  

• SSAB Steel Company, one of the world’s most carbon emission-efficient, highly-specialised steel companies. What makes SSAB particularly interesting to our conference, is their aim of being the first to deliver fossil-free steel to the market in 2026 and an entirely fossil-free production by 2030. On a wider scale this will reduce Sweden’s CO2 emissions by 10% and Finland’s by 7%. See more on SSAB’s website.  

The visit includes a presentation of their present day production and fossil-free production in the future and a tour of their showroom.  

• Municipality of Boden & Boden Business Park, the third largest town in Northern Sweden, located 30 minutes from Luleå. From a history of mining and military industries, Boden is now adapting to the changing markets and national sustainability strategies. The town balances billion-euro green investments with a fluctuating labour market, putting business development plans in the forefront while focusing on community building for new residents.    

We will hear from the mayor of Boden, Claes Nordmark, and CEO of Boden Business Park Thomas Fägerman.  

• The Regional Public Transport Authority in Norrbotten, If any government agency knows how to cooperate, it’s public transit. Responsible for busses, boats and trains in Norrbotten county, The Regional Public Transport Authority handles crucial urban and rural infrastructure, cross-border passenger travel between Finland and Sweden, develops fossil-free commuter trains, extensive tunnel projects, digital ticket accessibility and more 

How quickly can rural public services change to keep up? Huge green investments in Norrbotten means potentially rapid population growth follows. Have a conversation with public transport experts about how Luleå is dealing with changes in public service and demand for more capacity.  

• Swedish Lapland Visitors Board: Develops and supports the hospitality industry in Swedish Lapland with the goal of becoming the world’s most responsible Arctic travel destination. Promoting the tourism industry sustainably through organizational cooperation between local, public and private entities as well as projects like “Care for the Arctic”, the Lapland Visitors Board walks a fine line to balance a growing tourism demand with an environmental approach.  

The board will share their experiences with us, about how they manage growing tourism in Norbotten Region and how they cooperate with local municipal populations to make tourism sustainable.  

19.00

Conference dinner at Hemmagastronomi, Norra Strandgatan 1, Luleå

09.00

Introduction by conference host Mattias Goldmann  

09.05

Keynote – Regional attractiveness strategies in the new industrial age by Carina Sammeli, Mayor of Luleå

Luleå accounts for 7,8% of Sweden’s national emissions. The city is at the heart of rapid green industrial change and trying to adapt their public services, infrastructure and labour markets to match the pace. While massive investments are hitting a region that is entrenched in a slow Swedish procedural system, the local government is determined to make it a place where people are proud to live in. How do you make strategies in a transition happening quicker than research can keep up with? Luleå Mayor Carina Sammeli will take us through the decision-making process behind the conflicting sides of a green transition.

09.35

Keynote – The green transition must be democratic – but is it? By Kristian Borch, Aalborg University and Ruralis 

What does social acceptance and inclusion look like in the green transition, widely pushed by national and international goals? Sharing insights on the political and planning challenges, Kristian Borch will take us through the governance perspectives and provide examples of democratic and justice-based solutions. Get smarter about how to bring citizens to the table because if not, how will change policies move past the policy halls and into people’s homes and habits. 

10.05

Coffee break

10.30

Parallel sessions – thematic workshops (Green adaption themes: urban, rural and industry) 

Your path to becoming climate neutral Led by Luciane Borges, Senior Research Fellow at Nordregio 

Nordic cities are setting ambitious targets for climate neutrality, but they face significant challenges along the way. How can cities densify while ensuring sustainable land use? How can the energy efficiency of existing buildings be improved? And how can traffic-related emissions be effectively reduced? This workshop will explore the strategies that Nordic cities are using to meet these challenges through spatial planning. We invite national, regional, and local policymakers, network representatives, and practitioners to share insights and discuss practical solutions to help overcome these obstacles. 

Companies vs. communities – try out the land-use negotiation simulation. Led by Hilma Salonen, Senior Research Fellow at Nordregio 

Green business is everybody’s business – or is it? You can probably think of several examples of conflicts when a region has to balance green energy proposals with community needs. In this workshop you will role-play the solution process. Using Norrbotten lessons as inspiration, we jump into a simulation game, comparing different pathways to local ownership on the way. 

Who drives green industrial innovation? Meet three green industry leaders Led by Alberto Giacometti, Senior Research Fellow at Nordregio 

Industrial transformations need more than just new technologies; they require changes in governance, finance, societal values, and supply chains. However, policies often overlook industrial shifts, leading to a gap between societal and policy expectations and what industry can deliver. As a result, transformation strategies frequently fall short of their goals and timelines. Meet the industry leaders who are pushing for change: 

• Jenny Greberg, VP, Technology at LKAB 
• Lars Atterfors expert in wood building systems and wood-based products 
• Berndt Schalin, CEO Flexens Oy Ab focusing on green energy solutions  

Moderated by Anna Lundgren, Senior Researcher at Nordregio, this session will explore the barriers to industrial change and discuss actions needed to drive system-wide transformation. 

12.00

Closing lunch