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

2. 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)

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

4. 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.  

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

6. 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

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

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

9. 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

10. A continuous process Strategy Measures Objectives Adjustments
Monitoring
Evaluation

11. Sweden’s Environmental Objectives, De Facto 2007

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

13. 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 , *=2006

14. 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

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

16. 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.

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

18. 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%.

19. 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).

20. 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

21. 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

22. For further information
Embassy of Sweden, Ottawa:
Sweden’s portal:
Government of Sweden:
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency:
Swedish Environmental Objectives Portal: