Environment and climate

Vaccines and COVID-19 coordination were the main items on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met with other EU leaders at a video conference on 25 March. The single market and digital transformation were also on the agenda. The conference ended with a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

The UN brought together the world’s environment ministers at the virtual environment assembly UNEA 5, which focused among other things on global recovery after the pandemic. Several countries, including Sweden, highlighted the problems of plastic pollution in the oceans and the need for a global agreement on plastics. The assembly concluded with a kick-off ahead of the 50th anniversary of the UN Environment Programme, which will be marked in 2022.

In 2017, Sweden’s Riksdag decided by a large political majority to introduce a climate policy framework with a climate act for Sweden. This framework is the most important climate reform in Sweden’s history and sets out implementation of the Paris Agreement in Sweden. By 2045, Sweden is to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Together with nine other EU Member States, Sweden – through Minister for Energy and Digital Development Anders Ygeman – has signalled that it does not support the proposal to introduce additional requirements on bioenergy in the EU taxonomy. The countries presented their position in a joint letter to the European Commission.

The Government decided today to reduce emission amounts by an additional 10.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by cancelling emissions units.

The world’s environment ministers are gathering virtually on 22 and 23 February to discuss green recovery and decide on priorities ahead of the United Nations Environment Assembly. Minister for Environment and Climate Per Bolund is participating in the meeting.

Minister for Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans is taking part in a high-level meeting today, Wednesday 3 February. Participants have been convened by UNESCO to mark the start of the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which starts in 2021.

Civil society, the business sector and municipalities have an important role in the efforts for sustainable development. State Secretary Eva Svedling invited organisations and networks that are involved in this issue from different perspectives to a discussion on the focus of the Stockholm+50 high-level conference. One suggestion from the consultation was that Stockholm+50 should be action-oriented and highlight the conditions for, and obstacles to, implementing global goals.

Today, Sweden will co-host the global launch of the UN flagship project, the Human Development Report. This year’s report highlights how economic and human development can occur and be promoted in a way that does not come at the expense of the planet’s resources.

Sweden’s young people are deeply committed to the issue of climate change. In recognition of their commitment, Minister for Environment and Climate Isabella Lövin met with representatives of ten youth climate organisations on 25 November to discuss climate ambitions and objectives for the high-level meeting Stockholm+50 from a young person’s perspective.