Sweden taking part in several international climate transition initiatives

Alongside the negotiations, the UN climate conferences can serve as a platform for highlighting global climate action more broadly. International climate initiatives play an important role in this context by driving increased ambition.

Sweden participates in approximately a hundred climate initiatives and is engaged actviely in around 15 initiatives. A number of these initiatives are considered by the Government to be particularly relevant, not least because they help promote the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in strategic partner countries. These initiatives focus on the energy and industrial transition, as well as the reorientation of financial flows, and aim to phase out fossil fuels in line with the 1.5°C target. These initiatives are also aligned with Swedish priorities and address issues expected to be significant in 2026 and beyond.

Support for an initiative may be initiated by the Government, public authorities, or Swedish companies, and may involve providing political support, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience to enhance the implementation of climate actions, or offering financial support.

Initiatives at COP30

The Brazilian COP30 Presidency launched a new approach to the so-called Action Agenda. This included inviting a number of initiatives to present how their work contributes to the implementation of the Paris Agreement (in particular the decision on the Global Stocktake from COP29). Brazil also launched a campaign at COP30 to develop a roadmap for the phase-out of fossil fuels. This is an example of how work outside the formal negotiations is playing an increasingly significant role in global climate action.

During COP30, Sweden joined the Article 6 Ambition Alliance (AAA6), an initiative led by Switzerland aimed at promoting climate investments in developing countries. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement enables countries to cooperate in achieving their national commitments to reduce emissions. The objective is to achieve greater emission reductions than would be possible domestically using a country’s own resources alone.

Article 6 Ambition Alliance (AAA6) - - external website,

Initiatives at COP29

At COP29 in Baku, Sweden joined three climate initiatives launched by the Azerbaijani COP Presidency: the COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, the COP29 Hydrogen Declaration, and the Baku Transparency Platform. In addition, Sweden joined an initiative on negative emissions (GONE) and endorsed the Call to Action for No New Coal, led by the Powering Past Coal Alliance.

Ahead of COP29, Sweden announced several new contributions to climate action during the conference:

• SEK 8 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF),
• SEK 200 million to the new Fund for responding to loss and damage,
• SEK 130 million to the Adaptation Fund,
• SEK 130 million to the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and
  a guarantee to the Asian Development Bank, which together with other contributions has the potential to mobilise USD 11 billion (corresponding to ten per cent of the current climate finance target of USD 100 billion per year).

During COP29, Sweden supported the following initiatives and declarations:

COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge  - external website,
COP29 Hydrogen Declaration - external website,
Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform - external website, 
Towards negative emissions: Updates on Denmark's CCUS policy - external website, 
25 Countries and the EU launch Call to Action for No New Coal in National Climate Plans  - PPCA - external website,

Initiatives at COP28

At COP28, Sweden chose to support some 20 initiatives and declarations that had a bearing on the negotiations and that reflect political priorities and have the potential to promote increased ambition in global climate action. These include the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy globally (which the United States, France and the United Kingdom support), the Climate Club initiative for climate transition in industry, the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge (a Canadian carbon pricing initiative), and the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge (for renewable energy and boosting energy efficiency). See a complete list of links below.

Sweden is leading the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) together with India. A new vision and new focus areas, including enhanced cooperation between Sweden and India (LeadIT 2.0), were launched partly by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and India’s Prime Minister Narenda Modi during the high-level segment at COP28, and partly at LeadIT’s annual high-level meeting with Sweden’s and India’s climate and environment ministers Romina Pourmokhtari and Bhupander Yadav.

Sweden previously joined other initiatives that focus on phasing out fossil fuels, which was a key issue for negotiations at COP28. These include the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the Energy Transition Council. Other initiatives in which Sweden is taking part and that were highlighted at COP28 are the Glasgow Breakthrough (a COP26 initiative to increase the use of green technologies in various high-emission sectors by 2030) and the First Movers Coalition (an initiative from COP26 to promote climate-smart technologies in high-emission sectors).

Ahead of COP28, Sweden also decided to increase support to climate adaptation in developing countries via two global climate funds, and to provide new funding to the UN.

Sweden endorsed the following initiatives and declarations at COP28:

Energy                                          

Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy. The Declaration aims to highlight the role of nuclear energy in achieving the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and to promote responsible and safe nuclear energy. International cooperation to triple global capacity of nuclear energy - Government.se

Global Pledges on renewable energy and energy efficiency Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge  - external website,

 IAEA Statement on Nuclear Power IAEA Statement on Nuclear Power at COP28 - external website,

Statement from the G7+ and Government of Ukraine: Clean Energy Partnership for the Sustainable Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine's Energy System Clean Energy Partnership: G7+ and Ukraine joint statement - Government.se

Empowering Lives and Livelihoods – Renewables for Climate Action Empowering Lives and Livelihoods   - external website,

The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA). Heads of State Accelerate the Partnership for Renewables in Africa at COP28 - external website, 

Industrial transition

Climate Club: The Climate Club was launched at COP28 as a leading high-ambition intergovernmental forum for exchange on accelerating climate action and industry decarbonisation. The Climate Club, industry decarbonisation - The Climate Club  - external website,

LeadIT: Sweden and India launched at strengthened their partnership for industry transition.              Sverige och Indien lanserar förstärkt partnerskap för att stötta tung industri att nå nettonollutsläpp till 2050 - Regeringen.se

Food and agriculture

Declaration on Resilient Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture
Initiative by UAE. Declaration on Resilient Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture - external website,

Peace and security

Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace. Initiative by UAE. Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace   - external website,

Gettting Ahead of Disasters: a Charter for a Better Future       
Initiative by REAP (Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP). Getting Ahead Of Disasters - external website,

Health, education and gender equality

Declaration on Climate and Health. Initiative by UAE.
Health Declaration 2 Dec  - external website,

Declaration on the Common Agenda for Education and Climate Change.  Declaration on the common agenda for education and climate change  - external website,

Gender-Responsive Just Transition & Climate Action Partnership                
Initiative by UAE. Gender Responsive Just Transitions & Climate Action Partnership  - external website,

Environment                           

A letter of intent between the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Inter-American Development Bank concerning loan guarantees to enable seven countries in the Amazon region to borrow for sustainable investments. Svensk miljardgaranti för att rädda Amazonas | Sida - external website,

High Level Blue Mediterranean Partnership       Blue Mediterranean Partnership steps up support for sustainable blue economy - WestMED (europa.eu) - external website,

Transition of financial flows and climate finance

The Global Carbon Pricing Challenge (GCPC). Initiative by Canada. The Global Carbon Pricing Challenge - Canada.ca - external website,

Financing of emission reduction projects totalling USD 60 million in two new climate cooperation initiatives with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank. The Swedish Energy Agency invests USD 60 million in new climate cooperations - external website,

Pilot cooperation with Switzerland in trade with negative emissions: Sweden and Switzerland are taking the first steps towards building up an international market for negative emissions. Sweden and Switzerland pave the way for international trade with carbon removals - external website,

Early Warnings for All: Sweden is providing SEK 60 million to the UN initiative. Early Warnings for All | United Nations - external website,

The Adaptation Fund: Sweden is providing a total of SEK 230 million.  AF | Adaptation Fund (adaptation-fund.org)     - external website,

The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF): Sweden is providing SEK 230 million.  Least Developed Countries Fund - LDCF - external website,

Other initiatives

Sweden previously joined a number of initiatives, including:

LeadIT Leadership Group for Industry Transition LeadIT - external website,    

Power Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), The end of coal is in sight - PPCA - external website, 

Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA), Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance  - external website,

Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFFSR), Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform  - external website,

Breakthrough Agenda. It was launched at COP26 to help the world close the “collaboration gap” and accelerate international action on climate change to meet the Paris Agreement’s global decarbonisation targets. Breakthrough Agenda - external website,

First Movers Coalition (FMC), (World Economic Forum) First Movers Coalition  - external website,

Carbon Management Challenge (CMC),  COP28 UAE | Carbon Management Challenge Essential Pillar - external website,

Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action Coalition of Finance Ministers  - external website,

High Ambition Coalition (HAC) High Ambition Coalition - external website,