Ministry of Climate and Enterprise

The fifth and final session of the International Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, begins today, November 25 in Busan, South Korea. It is important to regulate plastic pollution on a global level to reduce pollution and climate impact, protect the oceans, nature, and biodiversity.

As of Wednesday 20 November, Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari is taking part in the final negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The negotiations are scheduled to conclude on Friday 22 November.

Sweden's national statement to the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 was delivered by Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari in Baku, Azerbaijan, 20 November 2024. Check against delivery.

Sweden is and will remain one of the world’s most generous donors of international climate finance. Swedish climate aid will be expanded and streamlined. With its substantial contribution in 2022, Sweden played a significant role in achieving the goal of USD 100 billion per year in global climate finance. Sweden’s contribution to international climate finance is at the core of its climate policy. International climate finance will contribute to both emissions reductions and climate adaptation.

The Government has issued inquiry terms of reference with the aim of strengthening and developing Sweden’s international climate action. The government inquiry will focus on preparing proposals for measures to strengthen Swedish initiatives to contribute to, and push for, climate action in other countries, and to support the Government Offices in implementing Sweden’s international climate policy.

Sweden has announced its contribution of SEK 8 billion to the UN Green Climate Fund (GCF), making the country one of the largest donors. Through the GCF, low- and middle-income countries can receive support to implement climate investments for reduced emissions and protect their societies against climate change by taking adaptation measures.

In connection with the COP29 climate change conference, Sweden is announcing a contribution to a new fund that aims to help particularly vulnerable countries manage climate-related loss and damage (the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage). The Fund is under the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Government decided today to task Business Sweden with stepping up its efforts to promote investments in the Swedish battery value chain, i.e. in all parts of production. The aim is to enable capital and important expertise to be brought into and retained in the Swedish business sector. The assignment also includes helping relevant companies and national, regional and local actors with advice and contacts.

The UN Climate Change Conference COP 29 will take place on 11–22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan. The key issues to be negotiated are the new global goal for financing climate action and emissions trading. The Government also wants to pick up the pace of work on new national climate action plans.

National statement delivered by Minister Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari at the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia, 29 October 2024. Check against delivery.

The UN global agreement to halt and reverse the ongoing loss of biodiversity – the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – was adopted in 2022. Implementation efforts are being followed up at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) taking place in Cali, Colombia on 21 October–1 November 2024.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas committed the worst mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was joined by other ministers in a ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on the evening of 7 October 2024 to honour the memory of the victims of the attack.

On 22 September, the Global Digital Compact (GDC), the first framework for global governance of digital technology, was adopted in connection with the UN Summit of the Future in New York. The Swedish Government was represented by Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch. The GDC is one of the most concrete aspects of the multilateral Pact for the Future adopted by UN Member States ahead of the 2024 General Assembly. Other key discussions addressed the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, energy policy, development issues and how to achieve the global climate goals.

Yesterday, 23 September, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch took part in a meeting between ministers and other high representatives of countries that backed a COP28 declaration on the need to triple production of nuclear energy by 2050. In conjunction with the meeting, global banks and financial institutions backed the countries’ ambition to increase production of electricity from nuclear energy.

On 21–23 September, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch will take part in the opening of the UN Summit of the Future in New York. Ahead of the Summit, Sweden has played an important role leading negotiations on the new Global Digital Compact. In conjunction with the Summit, Ms Busch will attend a G7 ministerial meeting on continued energy support to Ukraine. She will also meet representatives of governments, banks and industry to discuss the role of nuclear energy in the green transition.

On 22–30 September, the 79th session of the UN General Assembly is being highlighted in New York. In conjunction with the session, a high-level debate and several high-level meetings will convene, including the Summit of the Future. Sweden will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

On 17 September, Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari is attending the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference. Sweden’s participation is focused on highlighting Sweden’s new nuclear energy policy in the international arena, and also the consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion for Ukraine.

Swedish and Finnish ministers will undertake a number of joint visits on the afternoon of 16 September. Media representatives are welcome to take part in the visits. Contact the relevant press contacts for more information, see below. Note that the list is subject to change.

How many people work at the Government Offices? What was the central government budget like last year? How many acts and ordinances were issued last year? The answer to these and other questions can be found in the Swedish Government Offices Yearbook 2023.

The Government has approved an additional SEK 500 million in support for heating and electricity supply in Ukraine. According to World Bank calculations, the support could help generate electricity for 185 000 people, making this Sweden’s largest contribution yet to Ukrainian energy supply.