Iceland Design and Architecture, the National Energy Authority of Iceland, and the Environmental Agency of Iceland introduce NatNorth.is

Iceland Design and Architecture, the National Energy Authority of Iceland, and the Environmental Agency of Iceland are releasing a common information website, NatNorth.is, on a variety of projects intending to share knowledge, increase quality, and enhance sustainability in the Nordic north.

The common goal of the Nordic countries is to protect and preserve natural and social resources, which constitute the foundation of tourism in the north, and through that reinforce their position of competitiveness. This goal can be reached by committing to knowledge transfer and sharing solutions and ideas. 

The contribution of Iceland Design and Architecture, Design in nature, focuses on mapping design strategies in the processes involved with developing, adopting, and maintaining infrastructure. The specific aim is to preserve nature and improve access to nature experiences. By collecting, analyzing, and comparing infrastructure design across the Nordic countries, the goal is to identify solutions and methods for future nature conservation and nature experiences. The outcome of the project is the Nordic atlas of infrastructure design that emerges from collaboration and knowledge transfer between the Nordic countries. The atlas is a compilation of various examples, everything from local craftsmanship to innovative design based on new technology and groundbreaking ideas. Furthermore, it will shed light on planning methods, preservation, maintenance, and operating budgets involved in sustainable infrastructure development in Nordic nature.

The contribution of the National Energy Authority of Iceland, Clean energy, focuses on identifying pathways to a carbon-neutral tourism industry in the Nordic countries. Workshops will be held with providers of coaches, vessels, rental cars, and hospitality across the Nordic countries in order to provide policy recommendations that encourage the use of carbon-neutral sources of fuel and motivate authorities to endorse it. The output of the project is a White paper with suggestions of policy instruments and other initiatives that can contribute to the shift towards more sustainable energy sources in Nordic tourism.

The contribution of the Environmental Agency of Iceland, Nature Conservation, focuses on tourism management within national parks and other protected areas. The specific aims are to: identify more efficient use of visitor centers and other infrastructure within these areas; improve training of rangers; and develop
sustainability criteria for monitoring the areas in order to ensure their best possible condition for future generations. Six working groups are working on six individual subprojects and will all convene in a conference in March 2021.

The project is a part of the Icelandic presidency project of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019, A common path. The goal of the Nordic Council is to contribute to common solutions in areas where the Nordic countries are more likely to be successful with joint effort than individually. Read more about the Icelandic presidency in the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019 here. 

Project visual design: Vinnustofa Erlu & Jónasar.