Ambassador of Sweden to Canada Sustainable Sweden H.E. Ingrid Iremark Ambassador of Sweden to Canada Earth Day, 22 April 2008 Ottawa

Sweden – general facts Inhabitants: 9,0 million Area: 450 000 km² Capital: Stockholm Major cities: Göteborg, Malmö Language: Swedish Form of government: Parliamentary democracy Government: 4-party majority coalition since October 2006 (Centre-Right)

Sweden is a Northern country… Arctic circle Churchill, Manitoba Ottawa, Ontario Sweden is a Northern country…

Canada and Sweden Similarly to Canada, Sweden’s primary industries, such as wood, paper, steel and manufactured products, have been important in the development of the country’s economy.   Like Canada, Sweden is a technically well-advanced nation with a highly skilled work force.   Both countries are in the forefront of many high-tech industries, such as telecom and biotechnology.    

How did it start? UN Conference on the Environment in Stockholm 1972 Oil crisis 1973 Nuclear power referendum 1980

1999 – turn of the Millennium The Generation Goal “The overall aim is to hand over to the next generation a society in which the major environmental problems have been solved.” The Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) 1999 Unanimous decision

- ecological - social and - economic …sustainability The basic principle is to integrate… - ecological - social and - economic …sustainability

Sweden’s environment policy Based on sixteen environmental quality objectives for different areas Adopted by the Swedish Parliament in 1999 and confirmed in 2005

The Environmental Quality Objectives Reduced Climate Impact Clean Air Natural Acidification Only A Non-Toxic Environment A Protective Ozone Layer A Safe Radiation Environment Zero Eutrophication Flourishing Lakes and Streams Good-Quality Groundwater A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos Thriving Wetlands Sustainable Forests A Varied Agricultural Landscape A Magnificent Mountain Landscape A Good Built Environment A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life

A continuous process Strategy Measures Objectives Adjustments Monitoring Evaluation

Sweden’s Environmental Objectives, De Facto 2007

Development of Sweden’s climate strategy 1988 The first climate policy objective: carbon dioxide emissions 1991 Addition: all greenhouse gases 1993 A national climate strategy in line with the objectives of the Climate Convention 2002 Ratifies The Kyoto Protocol 2002 The current Swedish climate policy was adopted 2008 Climate Bill 2008, will be presented in Fall of 2008

Climate issues - Sweden & Canada   Sweden Canada GDP/capita (USD) 30 400 31 500 CO2/capita (tons) 6,0 23,7 CO2-emissions in million tons, 2004 and in 1971 56 (83) 758 (340) Difference of CO2-emissions between 1971 and 2004 -33% +123% CO2-emissions since 1990 (“national” Kyoto-target) -8,7%* (+4%) +27,9% (-6%) Total energy supply - fossil fuels (% of TES) 35,9 76,2 Total energy supply - nuclear energy (% of TES) 34,1 7,8 Total energy supply - renewable energy (% of TES) 28,9 15,9 Sources: OECD, Environment Canada and IEA, data are from 2002-2004, *=2006

Energy taxes in Sweden 1991 Sweden introduced a carbon dioxide tax and sulphur tax 2001 The great green tax reform was introduced 2005 A new green tax reform is focusing on the transport sector

Estimated emissions in Sweden - with and without CO2 tax Difference of app. 18%

Sweden’s Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt in Tokyo 17 April 2008 …it is possible to combine economic development with a stabilization – and decrease – of emissions. I’m not especially fond of taxes. But I’m convinced that they can make an important difference if you want to promote one type of behavior over another. New green technology is necessary, but it will not be enough. …international action is necessary.

Sweden’s decoupling of emissions and growth Graph shows only the period 1990 - 2003 Steady increase in GDP of about 44% (1990-2006) Industrial production increased by more than 50% Average purchasing power grew by more than 15% GHG emissions decreased by 8,7% (1990-2006) Source: Sweden’s Ministry for the Environment

Actions and initiatives in climate work 1 billion SEK (171 million CAD) to climate and energy initiatives 1 billion SEK for climate and environmental research Increased energy and climate taxes by 3 billion SEK (514 million CAD) in Budget Bill 2008 Share of “green” cars in public procurement - and lease - to increase from 75 to 85%. Share of “green” emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks, police cruisers etc) should increase to a minimum of 25%.

Climate and Energy within the EU Sweden plays an active role in the EU’s climate and energy policies. EU will reduce emissions by 20% by 2020 (compared to 1990).

Environment rankings CCPI 2008 Score EPI 2008 Score Newsweek 2008 Climate Change Performance Index, ranking 56 countries Environmental Performance Index, ranking 149 countries Newsweek Index of Environmental Performance, ranking 134 countries CCPI 2008 Score 1. Sweden 65,6 2. Germany 64,5 3. Iceland 62,6 --- 53. Canada 37,6 55. USA 33,4 56. Saudi Arabia 30,0 EPI 2008 Score 1. Switzerland 95,5 2. Sweden 93,1 3. Norway --- 12. Canada 86,6 39. USA 81,0 149. Niger 39,1 Newsweek 2008 Score 1. Sweden 94,8 2. Switzerland 94,7 3. Norway 94,5 --- 23. Canada 86,8 66. USA 77,0 134. China No data Germanwatch 2007 Yale University & Columbia University 2008 Newsweek, 14 April 2008

The Government Commission on Sustainable Development Focus on Climate Change Promote efforts across sectors, adopting an international perspective Cooperation for climate initiatives between business, politics and science, as illustrated by some of its members: - Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister, Chair - Leif Johansson, CEO & President of Volvo (Buses/truck company) - Lars G Josefsson, CEO & President of Vattenfall (Hydro/energy company) - Annika Helker Lundström, CEO of the Swedish Recycling Industries' Association

For further information Embassy of Sweden, Ottawa: www.swedishembassy.ca Sweden’s portal: www.sweden.se Government of Sweden: www.sweden.gov.se Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: www.naturvardsverket.se Swedish Environmental Objectives Portal: www.miljomal.nu