2024 Nordic Council Environment Prize

The focus of this year’s Nordic Council Environment Prize is sustainable construction, with a particular emphasis on transformative (also called adaptive) recyclable architecture and regenerative construction.

“There are many exemplary instances of sustainable and climate-friendly construction throughout the Nordic Region. The adjudication committee for the Nordic Council Environment Prize hopes that the prize will help put these ventures on the map and contribute to the public debate on the importance of reducing the climate footprint of the construction industry,” says Hólmfríður Þorsteinsdóttir, chair of the adjudication committee for the Nordic Council Environment Prize.

Construction currently accounts for around 40% of global CO2 emissions. In a time of an increased need for construction, this is an unsustainable situation. In the text describing this year’s theme, the adjudication committee stresses in particular the conditions that they’re going to pass onto future generations.

Theme for 2024: Sustainable construction

• This year, the Nordic Council Environment Prize is highlighting sustainable construction, with a special emphasis on adaptive recyclable architecture and regenerative construction. They’re also accepting nominations for both buildings and infrastructure, as well as individuals or organisations.
• As the world’s population continues to grow, new homes and other buildings need to be built, claiming more and more land and natural resources. Construction currently accounts for around 40% of global CO2 emissions. This is unsustainable. In order to address climate change and halt the loss of biodiversity whilst providing future generations with essential conditions for their survival, such as access to clean water, food, and energy, they must change the way they build and live.
• In adaptive recyclable architecture, the use of existing buildings is modified to suit new needs instead of demolishing them.
• Regenerative buildings are designed to minimise negative impacts on the ecosystem and achieve a net-positive effect on the natural environment. This means designing structures that not only use limited resources, but are also reusable. Circular value chains are incorporated from the very outset. Buildings are treated as part of a larger system where resources such as clean water, energy, and food are produced.

Funding Information

• The 2024 Nordic Council Environment Prize will be awarded to a person or entity in the Nordic Region who has made a special contribution to the development of a sustainable construction sector.
• The winner of the prize receives DKK 300,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• The prize is awarded to a Nordic individual, enterprise or organisation that has managed to integrate consideration for nature and the environment into its business or work in an exemplary way, or that has made an extraordinary positive contribution to nature and the environment in some other way. The winning entity must have a Nordic perspective and operate in the Nordic Region and/or in relation to parties outside of the Nordic Region. For this year’s theme, it is possible to nominate both buildings and infrastructure.

For more information, visit Nordic Council of Ministers.