On 25th January 2019, the Nordic prime ministers signed the Declaration on Nordic Carbon Neutrality in Helsinki. The new vision for a more carbon neutral Nordic region increased Anders’ interest for energy and energy cooperation. According to Anders; the new vision places energy at the core.

I am not a scientist, but I am immensely fascinated by how the Nordic cooperation works – how policies are created, and how they can be implemented. Nordic Energy Research is only one out of 12 institutions under the Nordic Council of Ministers; it is a complex bureaucratic system that covers many sectors and topics. The Nordic partnership is complex. Politics is complex, states Anders.

With the new vision for a more carbon neutral Nordic region, the region will not come close to its ambitious climate goals without focusing on energy, which has become increasingly clear for Anders after working eight years at the Nordic Council of Ministers.

A common Nordic interest in energy and sustainability

In the field of energy and sustainability the Nordic cooperation has developed to a closer and more targeted cooperation.

The Nordic region is not only a natural choice for multilateral cooperation due to its similar political and economic dynamic and goals; the region shares several cultural traits that makes it easier when policies and strategies are discussed. Most notably must be our passion for sustainability and battling climate change, and the focus on overall energy security. As these challenges are collective problems, it is only natural to seek a common Nordic solution, explains Anders.

The clear imprint of energy cooperation and research in the Nordic Council of Minister’s new vision was the main reason why Anders decided to continue his career at Nordic Energy Research.

Nordic Energy Cooperation; Challenging, yet, incredibly rewarding

There are many actors and opposing interests when five countries are working together to come up with multilateral solutions. It increases the complexity of your work. It is, however, one of the things that also makes working like this immensely fascinating. The challenges make an interesting career.   

Lastly, one of the things that makes working for, and advocating, Nordic energy cooperation fulfilling, is the understanding that if you work hard and make the right decisions, you have the possibility to make real change for the better, adds Anders Geertsen, as a conclusionary remark.

  • Name: Anders Geertsen
  • Age: 64
  • Nationality: Danish
  • Education:
    • BA in Economics and MA in French from University of Copenhagen
    • Diploma from INSEAD Paris
  • Leisure: Loves sailing