Environment and climate

Arctic Council statement on the occasion of the thirteenth meeting of the Arctic Council.

We are four months into the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, and good progress has been made in achieving the energy transition and enhancing long-term growth and productivity in the EU. In parallel, negotiations on EU legislation are ongoing – several agreements have been made, including with regard to the European Chips Act and the Renewable Energy Directive.

Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari hosted an informal meeting of EU environment ministers in Stockholm on 18–19 April, which was also attended by business leaders from across the EU. The focus of the meeting was the green transition and the role of business in promoting biodiversity, circularity and competitiveness.

On 18–19 April, Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari will chair the informal meeting of EU environment ministers at Arlanda. Business leaders will also attend to discuss how decision-makers and businesses can contribute to a green transition in the EU and globally.

Sweden has long played a leading role in the work on international marine environments. On 4 March 2023, the countries of the world agreed on the High Seas Treaty, aimed at protecting the world’s oceans. The Treaty establishes global rules to limit environmental impacts and create protected marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, which make up 95 per cent of the volume of the world’s oceans. The Treaty now makes it possible to achieve the goal of protecting 30 per cent of the earth’s surface.

EU environment ministers are meeting in Brussels on 16 March for the first Environment Council of the year. Among the matters they are expected to agree on is a general approach on a proposal to revise the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), which contains pollution prevention and control measures. This is a priority issue for the Swedish Presidency.

On 20 February, the final phase of negotiations began in a UN Intergovernmental Conference on an agreement that concerns 95 per cent of the oceans’ volume. The meeting could result in a historic agreement to protect marine biodiversity. Sweden has a key role at the meeting as holder of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, representing – together with the European Commission – the EU and its Member States.

The Government has presented Sida’s appropriation directions for 2023. The agency’s mandate includes reform and reconstruction support to Ukraine, a strong role for the business sector in development cooperation, advancement of work on migration issues and increased climate aid.

Sweden’s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is part of the effort to achieve equitable and sustainable development around the world. At present, Sweden is actively contributing to preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. It is intended that the new framework will apply following a decision taken at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the CBD in December 2022.

Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari, CBD COP 15, Montréal, Canada, 15 December 2022. Check against delivery.

At this year’s talks, Sweden stressed the urgency of the climate transition and the job and growth opportunities that the transition will create. The outcome of the talks was roughly the same as that of last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow. However, one success was the creation of a new loss and damage fund.

Late on Friday evening, 2 December, the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution concluded in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The talks that began at the COP27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh just over two weeks ago have now ended. One of the most crucial issues for the EU, through which Sweden is negotiating, was establishing a work programme for emissions reduction.

The Global Methane Pledge (GMP) was launched at the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow in 2021. As a step towards implementing the GMP, Sweden has now submitted a methane action plan outlining current emissions, instruments and measures.

Today marked the start of environment ministers’ week at the UN COP27 Climate Change Conference, and Sweden’s Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari is on site to take part in the negotiations.

Mapping of Sweden’s methane emissions, projections, policies and measures.

On Monday, 7 November, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).

At the request of the United States, Sweden has joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC). Sweden will also sit on the FMC advisory board. The FMC brings together companies and countries that are leading the climate transition by driving the development of climate-smart products. Four major Swedish companies are already members of the FMC.

The Swedish Government has adopted an updated strategy to combat antibiotic resistance (AMR). The overarching goal continues to be preserving the possibility of effective treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals. The strategy will apply until the end of 2023.