“BIOWATER has shown that Nordic water resources could potentially be strongly threatened by the emerging bio-economy. While we acknowledge that a change from an economy based on fossil fuel is important for the climate and life on this planet, we must stress the importance of ensuring that a green transition is done in a way that will ensure environmental sustainability both for us and future generations.” These are the last words in a short article written by BIOWATER’s leaders, as a contribution to NordForsk’s initiative ‘Fast Track to Vision 2030’.

What is Vision 2030 and what is the Fast Track to this vision?

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ Vision 2030 is short and clear: “The Nordic Region will become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world in 2030”. The Fast Track to this vision is a collection of 33 policy brief articles written by Nordic researchers participating in collaborative projects funded by NordForsk or Nordic Energy Research. The purpose of the Fast Track-publication is to contribute “relevant and up-to-date research-based knowledge that facilitates the analysis of the challenges and opportunities of Nordic co-operation in the coming years”. BIOWATER’s contribution is found on page 107 of the Fast track publication, and elaborates on one aspect of this vision – that of the sustainability of our water resources under a green transition.

A main message from BIOWATER is that there is a close connection between how we manage our land resources and the water quality of the receiving streams and lakes. Hence, intensified exploitation of land resources can seriously threaten our Nordic water resources and the ecosystem services they provide. Sustainability is therefore the key to a future with a green transition that is also ensuring blue – and not algae-green – waters. Our article, “How do we ensure clean water under a green transition?” suggests how this may be done. And no, we do not have the full solution. But we strongly believe that following a sustainable pathway in all respects is the only way forward, and whereas our Center of Excellence has demonstrated that this is necessary, new projects continue to outline how. (See, for example, SABICAS on nature-based solutions, or NORDBALT-ECOSAFE on “Nitrogen and phosphorus load reduction approach within safe ecological boundaries for the Nordic-Baltic region”).

Feature photo: Eva Skarbøvik