For quite a long time the Nordic countries have had explicitly formulated climate change strategies and have used various measures intended to curb emissions. Since 1 January 2005 an emissions trading scheme is in operation within the European Union, after several years of preparation. When setting climate policies the Nordic countries must take this new instrument in to account, and try and find the right balance between emissions trading and other means of reducing emissions. This study analyzes how the Nordic countries have dealt with or plan to deal with the conditions of the EU emissions trading system and the relation to other measures to curb emissions.