Advancing Sustainable Finance in the Nordic Region
The Blue Nordic ESG initiative explores how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are shaping financial markets and corporate strategies across the Nordic region. With a distinct focus on marine and freshwater ecosystems, projects under the Blue Nordic ESG delve into the role of sustainable finance in safeguarding biodiversity, mitigating climate risks, and fostering resilient economies.
At the Nordic ESG Lab, we investigate how Nordic investors, regulators, and businesses integrate ocean- and water-related sustainability considerations into financial decision-making. Through interdisciplinary research, empirical case studies, and stakeholder engagement, we assess the effectiveness of ESG investment frameworks in driving real-world environmental impact.
Current Blue Nordic ESG Projects
THE MAKING OCEANS COUNT 2 (MOC2) INITIATIVE
The Making Oceans Count 2 (MOC2) project seeks to ensure that material marine ecosystem-related risks and opportunities are better integrated into the decision-making processes of key actors within the Nordic financial sector. Financial institutions play a pivotal role in advancing the sustainability of marine environments, as well as protecting and restoring their biodiversity. The initiative, supported by the Danish VELUX FONDEN, is implemented by a consortium comprising Hub Ocean, the Green Digital Finance Alliance, WWF-Denmark, and Copenhagen Business School. The project has also benefited from the active participation and insights of financial institutions and data providers from the Nordic region and internationally. In its current phase, Making Oceans Count 2, the project focuses on scoping and addressing the needs of the sustainable blue economy and finance. The long-term ambition is to leverage ocean-related data to develop insightful and actionable ocean (ESG) metrics tailored for investors and industries impacted by oceanic conditions. The initiative aims to support the development of robust ocean metrics that enable financial institutions to better integrate ocean-related risks, impacts, and opportunities into their strategies. These metrics are designed to generate positive impacts on marine environments while helping stakeholders adapt to shifts in environmental conditions and evolving regulatory frameworks. By aligning ocean data with the needs of financial decision-makers, the MOC initiative aspires to drive meaningful contributions toward a sustainable blue economy.
