Translating policy into practice: Analysis of Climate Policymaking in the Nordic-Baltic Region from gender perspectives

Existing research reveals that climate-related risks and opportunities are unevenly distributed across different social groups, such as gender, underscoring the need for policy frameworks which address these disparities. Failing to recognise these differences puts climate policy at risk of focusing on the wrong targets, making it both ineffective and unjust. Despite growing recognition that gender sensitivity and intersectional approaches are critical for a just climate transition, previous research shows an institutional stickiness in Nordic climate policies. These policies privilege techno-economic discourse, favouring technical innovation and economic growth while overlooking gender perspectives. This pattern could extend to the Baltic context, though evidence remains limited. The paper addresses a gap in comparative studies of gender and climate policy among Nordic and Baltic states, a comparison that is previously uncharted. The paper focuses on the energy and transport sectors, which are traditionally male-dominated and high-emitting sectors essential to climate mitigation efforts. Grounded in feminist institutionalist theory, the paper analyses semi-structured interviews with civil servants in key climate institutions in Sweden (6), Norway (4), Denmark (4), Finland (7), Estonia (6), Lithuania (7) and Iceland (5), exploring the institutional challenges and obstacles to integrating gender into climate policymaking. The analysis focuses on how gender is constructed and understood in climate policy and which forms of knowledge are legitimised or sidelined. Preliminary findings indicate that gender is not perceived as a neutral policy domain but can be politically charged, which may constitute a barrier to policy integration. Siloed structures may reinforce this perception where institutional mandates, resources, and expertise tend to be compartmentalised into separate climate and gender domains. This fragmentation is further compounded by path dependencies whereby past norms guide future development which can be a challenge to address and change. The accelerating pressures of fiscal austerity and the impact of political cycles also create challenges for civil servants, forcing them to find new techniques to work around the current conditions. These preliminary findings highlight the importance of studies that critically examine institutional structures and their role in shaping gender-sensitive climate policy. Keywords: Gender equality, Nordic, Baltic, climate transition, policy-making