The Swedish way: government policies and practices
"Generations before us have built one of the richest and fairest countries in the world. Our task is to build a stronger nation – one that can make the transition to a new era. We must ensure that our children inherit a sustainable, safe and equal society."
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven
Read about the Swedish Government’s policies and practices to achieve progress in key areas.
Policies and practices
A safer and more secure Sweden
The Government's efforts to fight crime include introducing law enforcement measures today and preventive measures for the future. In Sweden, everyone should feel safe and secure, regardless of where they live.
Feminist foreign policy
Gender equality is a fundamental aim of Swedish foreign policy. Ensuring that women and girls enjoy fundamental human rights is an obligation within our international commitments and prerequisite to achieving Sweden’s broader foreign policy goals – peace, security and sustainable development.
Gender equality - long-term progress
Gender equality is a matter of human rights, of democracy and of justice. The Government’s overall policy will redistribute power and resources for a more gender-equal society; the aim is for women and men to have the same power to shape society and their own lives.
Higher education in Sweden
Sweden aims to be a leading knowledge nation and one of the world’s foremost research and innovation countries. The goal is for education and research at higher education institutions to maintain high international standards.
International defence cooperation
Sweden has extensive defence cooperation with other states and organisations. This cooperation is an integral part of the solidarity-based security policy upon which Sweden builds security together with others. International defence cooperation contributes to strengthening Sweden’s military capabilities to be able to respond to an armed attack.
Sweden's carbon tax
The Swedish carbon tax was instituted in 1991, alongside an already existing energy tax, and it remains a cornerstone of Swedish climate policy. Over time, the carbon tax has increased in importance, contributing to a broad range of environmental and climate objectives.
Sweden's climate policy framework
Swedens climate policy framework 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.
Swedish innovation
The Government wants to strengthen Sweden’s innovative capacity and climate for innovation so as to contribute to sustainable development and establish conditions to create new jobs throughout the country.
The Swedish pension system
Sweden has a fundamentally sound pension system, whose unique design attracted much international attention when it was adopted in the 1990s. Several countries, inspired by the Swedish pension system, have now reformed their own.
Transport sector transitioning for the climate
Sweden’s ambition is to be the world’s first fossil-free welfare nation. Currently, the transport sector accounts for almost one-third of fossil-fuel emissions in Sweden. Therefore, it is vital that the transport sector shift. To achieve this, the entire transport sector must come together, and both the public and private sectors must do their share.
