Gendered norms and practices in Nordic and Baltic Climate Policy Institutions: Implication for the Climate Transition

Background

While it is by now widely known that gender-aware policymaking is necessary for an equal and just climate transition, this knowledge has yet to be fully implemented into climate policy and, in particular, in policy of the sectors implicated in the climate transition (such as transport and energy). Even though the Nordic countries are known for their progressive gender profile, they have been slow to recognize the link between gender and climate change, which has not sufficiently informed the work of their climate institutions. 

Research conducted between 2013 and 2015 revealed that, despite a balanced gender representation in the climate-relevant ministries and agencies in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, this parity did not translate into the development of gender-sensitive or socially inclusive climate strategies. Climate responses were largely gender blind and framed in a techno-economic manner. Such findings suggest that gender equality in the climate transition requires more than simply increasing the number of women in policymaking institutions. 

Also, previous research conducted in 2019-2023 indicates some awareness among Swedish policymakers of the relevance of gender, but path-dependent institutional practices such as a strong techno-economic focus prevent further recognition of gender and other social differences in policymaking. There is thus a need to study the institutional practices of climate institutions to investigate further the challenges or obstacles for a policy making that recognizes and implements gender awareness and actions. 

Gender is a highly relevant factor in the climate transition as climate change affects people very differently along gender and intersectional dimensions. Better recognition of gender in climate policy will be beneficial for a climate transition by allowing for new framings of climate change beyond that of a techno-scientific problem.  

Project aim 

The aim of the project is to study how gender equality is understood and implemented by governmental authorities responsible for climate policymaking in the Nordic and Baltic countries. By exploring the authorities' institutional practices and the challenges associated with integrating gender aspects into climate policies, the project hopes to contribute with increased knowledge on how to develop gender-sensitive climate policies in line with national and international commitments.

Research questions

• How is gender made relevant in the climate transition through climate policymaking in the Nordic and Baltic states?  
• What are the institutional challenges and obstacles to include and implement gender in climate policymaking and institutions?  
• What are policy options or policy practices that can advance an inclusive, gender sensitive climate transition?

Research methods

The project is a comparative study as it studies how state authorities responsible for climate issues in the Nordic and the Baltic states work with gender issues. The project applies mixed methods: 

• Mapping 
• Critical policy analysis,
• Surveys
• Semi- structured interviews. 

The project will focus on the energy and transport sector since they are some of the highest carbon emitting sectors and therefore have a central role in climate transition. 

The research project will also flip the analysis around and address how gender equality units, such as gender agencies and ministries, understand and handle climate issues. 

Mapping will be conducted to address the material aspects of gender relations. The project will map the policymakers in terms of sex, to ask to what extent male or female bodies are represented among policymakers in the studied climate institutions and at what level and areas they are active. Additionally, the project will map climate policies, as well as policies specific to the transport and energy sectors as well as gender equality units. 

Through a comparative critical policy analysis, the project unpacks the way gender norms are understood in key policy texts from governmental authorities in all the states studied. To investigate the attitudes of policymakers and their actions regarding the climate transition, the project conducts a survey across the studied countries, focusing on climate policymakers i.e. civil servants. 

The semi-structured interviews will add the relational and practice dimension of the policymaking process and help identify challenges that officials face in adopting a more gender-aware mindset.

Additionally, the project engages stakeholders in a co-production process, where partial results are communicated
through research briefs. The research findings will be presented through traditional scientific outputs such as
conference papers, articles, book chapters and an edited book. Stakeholders will also be reached through
webinars, providing opportunities for learning, networking, and fostering connections that transcend national and
sectoral boundaries.