E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

Sustainable Sweden

H.E. Ingrid IremarkAmbassador of Sweden to Canada

Earth Day, 22 April 2008Ottawa

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

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)

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

Ottawa, Ontario

Churchill, Manitoba

Sweden is a Northern country…

Arctic circle

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

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.  

 

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

How did it start?

• UN Conference on the Environment in Stockholm 1972

• Oil crisis 1973

• Nuclear power referendum 1980

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

The Generation Goal

“The overall aim isto hand over to the next generation a society in which the major environmental problems have been solved.”

The Swedish Parliament(Riksdagen) 1999Unanimous decision

1999 – turn of the Millennium

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

The basic principle is to integrate…

- ecological

- social and

- economic

…sustainability

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

Sweden’s environment policy

• Based on sixteen environmental quality objectives for different areas

• Adopted by the Swedish Parliament in 1999 and confirmed in 2005

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

The Environmental Quality Objectives

1. Reduced Climate Impact2. Clean Air3. Natural Acidification Only4. A Non-Toxic Environment5. A Protective Ozone Layer6. A Safe Radiation Environment7. Zero Eutrophication8. Flourishing Lakes and Streams9. Good-Quality Groundwater10. A Balanced Marine Environment,

Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos

11. Thriving Wetlands12. Sustainable Forests13. A Varied Agricultural Landscape14. A Magnificent Mountain Landscape15. A Good Built Environment16. A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

A continuous process

Objectives

Strategy

Adjustments

Evaluation

Measures

Monitoring

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Sweden’s Environmental Objectives, De Facto 2007

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Development of Sweden’s climate strategy

• 1988 The first climate policy objective: carbon dioxide emissions

• 1991 Addition: all greenhouse gases

• 1993 A national climate strategy in line with the objectives of the Climate Convention

• 2002 Ratifies The Kyoto Protocol

• 2002 The current Swedish climate policy was adopted

• 2008 Climate Bill 2008, will be presented in Fall of 2008

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

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 2002-2004, *=2006

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

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

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

Estimated emissions in Sweden

- with and without CO2 tax

40

45

50

55

60

1990 2002 2009

Mtonnes

Emissions without CO2 tax Emissions with CO2 tax

Difference of app. 18%

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

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.

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

Sweden’s decoupling of emissions and growth

• Steady increase in GDP of about 44% (1990-2006)

• Industrial production increased by more than 50%

• Average purchasing power grew by more than 15%

• GHG emissions decreased by 8,7% (1990-2006)

Graph shows only the period 1990 - 2003

Source: Sweden’s Ministry for the Environment

E m b a s s y o f S w e d e n , O t t a w a

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%.

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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).

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Environment rankings

CCPI 2008 Score

1. Sweden 65,6

2. Germany 64,5

3. Iceland 62,6

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53. Canada 37,6

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55. USA 33,4

56. Saudi Arabia 30,0

EPI 2008 Score

1. Switzerland 95,5

2. Sweden 93,1

3. Norway 93,1

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12. Canada 86,6

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39. USA 81,0

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149.

Niger 39,1

Climate Change Performance Index,ranking 56 countries

Environmental Performance Index,ranking 149 countries

Newsweek 2008

Score

1. Sweden 94,8

2. Switzerland 94,7

3. Norway 94,5

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23. Canada 86,8

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66. USA 77,0

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134. China No data

Newsweek Index of Environmental Performance, ranking 134 countries

Germanwatch 2007

Yale University & Columbia University2008

Newsweek, 14 April 2008

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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

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For further information

• Embassy of Sweden, Ottawa:www.swedishembassy.ca

• Sweden’s portal:www.sweden.se

• Government of Sweden:www.sweden.gov.se

• Swedish Environmental Protection Agency:www.naturvardsverket.se

• Swedish Environmental Objectives Portal:www.miljomal.nu