Home to more than half the world's inhabitants, with forecasts that 70% of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, cities play a central role in contemporary society. Environmental, social and economic elements interact at the urban scale and can have an influence that extends well beyond their politically defined territories. In the Nordic countries, urban areas account for a significant share of population and economic output. A number of Nordic cities are also seen as international models towards more environmentally friendly ways of life.
From an environmental perspective, as they continue to grow, cities place growing pressure on land, energy and resources, which can lead to greater environmental threats. At the same time, their increased importance means that environmentally sustainable solutions for urban areas have significant potential for mitigating resource consumption. Socially, urban regions in the Nordic countries and beyond present an opportunity for people with different backgrounds to interact, but are also sites where poverty and social exclusion are evident. Overcoming these challenges is important in the development of an equitable society and influence a diversity of other elements, from the environment and economy to health and safety. Finally, with high concentrations of economic activity, urban regions serve as economic and innovation drivers in the Nordic countries. A balance between these three central elements is essential to the development of high quality, environmentally sustainable, equitable and economically successful cities.
An important issue in relation to rural development is how the rural areas are exposed to substantial changes as agriculture and forestry – previously dominating the rural areas – is on one hand being abandoned or substituted by alternative activities such as generation of biomass as a source for renewable energy. Or the changes are characterized by multiple functions where for instance agriculture and solar or wind energy are included as components in the changing landscapes. In order to react to these changes, determining typologies reflecting the amount of change and intensity are important tools in both policy and planning processes. The mapping of changes in land use patterns interacting with ongoing socio-economic developments are important in order to determine to what extent the trends are sustainable, and to what extent the ongoing changes will compromise future developments. In this connection efficiency analysis in relation to regional performance, showing to what extent certain patterns of land use have been effective in achieving policy goals towards sustainable development, are critical.
Nordregio's research in this field comprises a range of studies dealing with action-oriented research focusing on stakeholder involvement in so-called urban living labs towards sustainable development, as well as modeling approaches towards future land use changes in the Nordic countries.
Back to all themes