Ministry of Climate and Enterprise

The importance of maintaining active competition enforcement with regard to markets and companies in times of crisis was a recurring message during the European Competition Day conference.

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 energy ministers will gather on 28 March under the leadership of Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch. The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) is expected to adopt a general guideline on the gas and hydrogen package. The aim is to increase the use of renewable and low-carbon gas in the EU’s energy system, while the use of natural gas decreases.

Statement from Minister for Energy, Business, and Industry Ebba Busch.

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.

Statement from Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch.

Today, UN negotiations on an agreement to protect marine biodiversity succeeded after 15 years. The agreement will establish rules to limit environmental impacts and marine protected areas beyond national jurisdiction, which make up 95 per cent of the volume of the world’s oceans. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has led the negotiations on behalf of the EU and its Member States together with the European Commission.

On 27–28 February, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch and Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson will host an informal meeting of EU ministers in Stockholm. On the agenda are discussions on the future of energy and transport in the EU.

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.

This compilation contains a selection of the acts and ordinances – both new and amended – that enter into force in the second half of 2022 or in early 2023.

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.

As of 1 January 2023, two new ministries will be created. One will be responsible for climate and enterprise, and the other for rural affairs and infrastructure. The ministries concerned will remain in their current form until then.

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.