Environment and climate

Translation of SOU 2022:7.

On 13–15 July, State Secretary Anders Grönvall will head the Swedish delegation taking part in the 2022 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The theme of this year’s HLPF is ‘Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.

Joint statement on the limited resumption of Arctic Council cooperation.

Some 150 countries gathered in Stockholm to focus on the climate and environment. Sweden and Kenya have now summarised the results in a Stockholm agenda – 10 recommendations to the world to accelerate the pace of the transition.

A ban on extracting coal, oil and natural gas in Sweden will enter into force in Sweden on 1 July this year. It will be an important step in the process of transitioning to a fossil-free society. This was announced by Minister for climate and the environment Annika Strandhäll on World Environment Day, on June 5th.

On 31 May and 1 June, two major youth meetings with both Nordic and global representation were held in connection with Stockholm+50. During these meetings, the young people summarised and presented their views on Stockholm+50 to several environment and climate ministers.

Stockholm, 2 June 2022. Check against delivery.

Convening ahead of the Stockhom+50 conference this week, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation Matilda Ernkrans and members of the Champions Group on Adaptation Finance reiterated their commitments to raise the political ambition for adaptation finance and address the barriers to increasing flows, quality, effectiveness and accessibility of adaptation finance.

Today, 1 June, Sweden and the US hosted a meeting where the business sector, civil society and some 10 countries discussed solutions to reduce plastic pollution and increase recycling of plastics.

On 1 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation Matilda Ernkrans will host a high-level meeting on increased support to the countries hardest hit by climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The ministerial meeting will bring together some 30 donor and developing countries, the UN and leading representatives of central organisations and funds, including the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund and UNDP.

The international climate and environment week in Stockholm is now getting under way with a series of high-level meetings, including LeadIT on industry transition, the UN Stockholm+50 conference at Stockholmsmässan and the annual Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA). UN Secretary-General Guterres and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry are among those attending.

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.

A research partnership was re-launched 18 May for the environment, climate and security. Called the Stockholm Hub on Environment, Climate and Security, it combines the strengths of four world-leading Swedish research institutes in the environment, climate and security area. The hub will receive more funding for its continuing work to promote knowledge development and policy dialogue.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde and Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, issued the following joint statement:

On 20–23 April, Minister for Finance Mikael Damberg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Matilda Ernkrans will attend the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) and the World Bank Group’s Spring Meetings in Washington DC. The Spring Meetings will focus on the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what the rest of the world should do to support Ukraine and address the impact.

Prime ministers Jonas Gahr Støre and Magdalena Andersson met on 5 April for talks in Stockholm. The prime ministers agreed to conclude as soon as possible an agreement between Norway and Sweden on the export/import of carbon dioxide to enable cooperation between Norwegian and Swedish companies on the permanent storage of carbon dioxide in the Norwegian continental shelf.

On 31 March, Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll will launch the Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative in Washington. The initiative, which will establish Sweden as a partner for the US in the transition towards a low-carbon economy, is now being launched by Swedish government agencies and the Swedish Embassy in Washington.

The European Council meeting of 24–25 March, one month after Russia began its aggression against Ukraine, focused on the conflict and consequences for the EU. The US President attended the meeting for talks on Thursday evening. On Friday the focus was on Europe’s strategic dependence on Russian fossil fuels, the high energy prices in the EU and the green transition.

On Monday 28 March, Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll will lead a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York. The UN is hosting the meeting as part of the practical preparations for the Stockholm+50 international meeting.