80 (!) percent of the entire energy demand of Iceland is gained from renewable sources - in the most literal sense of the word, since a considerable portion comes from geothermic sources and hydropower. In Finland a cozy, comfortable residential area is being developed which shall be entirely CO₂-neutral, and in Sweden solar energy systems are being developed particularly for the northern regions. In Norway floating windmills are being planned, and algae are being tested as biofuel. The Danish island Samsø is not only self-sustaining as far as energy is concerned, it even has a negative carbon footprint. With respect to energy issues and climate protection, creativity in the Nordic countries seems to have hardly any limits. In the run-up to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December, we are presenting individual projects which have already been realized as well as visions of the future, and are providing information about Nordic environmental research and policies.