Stockholm+50

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.

Opinion piece by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde and Matilda Ernkrans, Minister for International Development Cooperationin Politico, June 5, 2022.

This year, Sweden will host World Environment Day – 50 years after it was launched in Stockholm. Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll will open World Environment Day on 5 June, together with Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen. The opening will take place at the National Museum of Science and Technology and will include a discussion with young people about their vision for the future. Media representatives are welcome to follow the event onsite.

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.

Close to one hundred participants representing countries, industries and international organisations are meeting in Stockholm today under the LeadIT initiative to discuss the climate transition of heavy industry. Sweden, India and the World Economic Forum are hosting the meeting, which calls for decisions and action so that industry can assume international leadership in the climate transition. Two additional countries have now joined the initiative: Japan and South Africa.

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.

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will receive UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday 1 June. The agenda for their bilateral meeting includes the security situation in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic 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.

The United Nations Environment Assembly decided to initiate negotiations on a global agreement to end plastic pollution at its meeting in Nairobi on 2 March. In conjunction with the Environment Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding.

Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll is participating in the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28 February–3 March. Sweden is pushing for negotiations on a global agreement on plastic pollution and a green post-pandemic recovery.

Stockholm+50 is intended to create conditions that allow the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sweden prioritises opportunities for civil society and young people to engage in both the preparation and implementation of Stockholm+50. They can get involved in various ways.

The virtual side-event “Towards Stockholm 50: Transforming global value chains for a healthy planet and prosperity for all” at UNEA 5.2 focuses on sustainable global value chain initiatives as a key input towards the UN high level meeting Stockholm +50 in June 2022.

Sweden will host World Environment Day on 5 June 2022 in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The theme – ‘Only One Earth’ – will highlight the possibilities for shifting to more sustainable, greener lifestyles.

The Nordic environment and climate ministers met on 3 November in Copenhagen to discuss how they can work together to push for an ambitious outcome from the ongoing UN COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. Issues concerning a global agreement on plastics and the plans for the Stockholm+50 conference are also on the agenda.

Next year, Sweden will host Stockholm+50, a UN conference that aims to help accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. At the ongoing UN COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Sweden today launched an initiative to strengthen young people’s participation in the work ahead of and during Stockholm+50.

Sweden and Kenya today jointly presented a resolution for adoption by the UN General Assembly that lays the foundation for the international UN conference ‘Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity’.