Per Bolund

The Government has decided to allow a capacity increase of the interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, pending a repository for final disposal being constructed and put into operation. An intermediate decision on interim storage is necessary to safeguard the energy supply in the coming years.

Today in the Riksdag, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced the ministers who will serve in the Government. The change of government will take place at a Council of State at the Royal Palace presided over by His Majesty The King. The Council of State will begin at 14.15.

This year’s theme for UN World Environment Day was ‘Ecosystem Restoration’. One Swedish example is the Government’s drive in recent years to restore wetlands. This has a positive impact on biodiversity and the capacity to bind carbon dioxide. Artic wetlands are at severe risk of destruction due to climate change.

Swedish Minister for Environment and Climate, Per Bolund, Minister for Gender Equality and Housing, Märta Stenevi, and Minister for Energy and Digital Development, Anders Ygeman, met with French Minister for Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, on her visit to Stockholm, to discuss joint efforts to enhance the green transition at national, European and global levels.

Sweden and Kenya today jointly presented a resolution for adoption by the UN General Assembly that lays the foundation for the international UN conference ‘Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity’.

Speech by the Minister for Environment and Climate Per Bolund at a roundtable discussion on April 23 led by US Climate Envoy John Kerry and Secretary of State Antony Blinken during President Joe Biden's climate summit. Check against delivery.

The UN brought together the world’s environment ministers at the virtual environment assembly UNEA 5, which focused among other things on global recovery after the pandemic. Several countries, including Sweden, highlighted the problems of plastic pollution in the oceans and the need for a global agreement on plastics. The assembly concluded with a kick-off ahead of the 50th anniversary of the UN Environment Programme, which will be marked in 2022.

The Government decided today to reduce emission amounts by an additional 10.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by cancelling emissions units.

The world’s environment ministers are gathering virtually on 22 and 23 February to discuss green recovery and decide on priorities ahead of the United Nations Environment Assembly. Minister for Environment and Climate Per Bolund is participating in the meeting.

The Government today proposed extending the government credit guarantee programme ‘Företagsakuten’ into 2021 so as to cover lending after 31 December. The programme is intended to facilitate lending to small and medium-sized companies affected by the pandemic. The Företagsakuten programme was launched in spring 2020 as part of the Government’s measures to support the business sector during the ongoing pandemic and builds on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Several measures taken to support Swedish jobs and businesses through the crisis will be extended. These include short-term lay-offs, deferral of tax payments, reorientation support and turnover-based support to sole traders. The proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

On September 24 the Government decided to extend until the end of the year the government credit guarantee programme aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that have experienced financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme was launched in the spring as part of the Government’s measures to support the business sector during the ongoing pandemic and builds on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party. As a result of this decision, the option for businesses to take part in the credit guarantee programme applies to loans granted until 31 December 2020.

Global warming continues regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change will remain the defining issue of our generation. The Government is therefore proposing investments of SEK 9.7 billion in green recovery initiatives in the Budget Bill for 2021. The Government’s proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

On 30 June, SAS presented a plan for the recapitalisation of the company and a plan to accelerate its climate action, including the halving of emissions by 2030. The Government has the Riksdag’s mandate to participate in the recapitalisation on behalf of the Swedish State during 2020 to an amount not exceeding SEK 5 billion. The Government supports the plan that has now been put forward and the measures necessary for its realisation.

The Government has adopted a framework that will enable an issue of sovereign green bonds. This will be the first time sovereign green bonds have been issued in Sweden. The Swedish framework has been awarded the highest possible environmental grade by the independent reviewer.

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party are today presenting new measures. A boost for care of the elderly is being implemented that means that employees in care of the elderly will be offered paid education and training during working hours. This will lead to more permanent positions.

Several of the economic measures presented by the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party to mitigate the impact of the virus outbreak will be reinforced, including reimbursement for the first day of sickness and central government responsibility for businesses’ sick pay costs. In addition, the ceiling for unemployment benefits will be raised from day 101.

The Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party today presented an additional measure to mitigate the impact of the virus outbreak on Swedish jobs and businesses. The measure involves reorientation support totalling SEK 39 billion.

The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority is to work to ensure that the financial system contributes to sustainable development. Climate change is central to this work as it has a major global impact and clear connections to financial stability.

After the European Commission approved the Government’s state aid notification on Wednesday, the Government could today adopt an ordinance on a discount for fixed rental costs in vulnerable sectors as a way to mitigate the financial consequences of the virus outbreak. The new aid is based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.