Date: 22/08/23

Sweden’s pathway to Sustainability

• Sweden an environmental pioneer.
• 1920s energy sources were first taxed in Sweden.
• 1967 the first country in the world to pass an environmental protection act (Environmental Protection Act 1967)
• 1972 Sweden hosted the first UN conference on the global environment.
• 1991 Sweden as one of the first countries in the world to introduce a carbon tax.
• This duty tax is placed on carbon accelerated fuels namely natural gas and oil, which in turn has heavily reduced Sweden’s dependency on fossil fuels.
  • Pricing carbon is a way of implementing the ‘Polluters Pay Principle’ – which the costs of pollution are endured by those who cause it.
  • The carbon tax was presented alongside an already existing energy tax which to this day remains the foundation of Swedish Climate Policy.
• 2015 The Government created the Scientific Council for Sustainable Development – a platform for communication between the scientific community and the Government aiding to provide a sustainable development policy based on scientific support.
• 2017 Sweden adopted a new Climate Policy Framework, which sets out goals for climate targets, a climate act, and a climate policy council.
• 2018 the Climate Act was transposed into Swedish law.
  • The act expresses that the Government shall annually present a climate report in the Budget Bill, every four years conduct a climate policy action plan and report how the climate targets are achieved and finally ensure that budget policy and climate policy goals join forces.
• 2020 the Swedish parliament (Riksdag) accepted a Government bill with an extensive objective for the application of the 2030 Agenda.

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a determined plan for action for countries.
• The agenda is transformative, universal and rights based.
• The agenda seeks to:
  • End hunger and poverty
  • Comprehend human rights of all.
  • Secure protection of our planet and its natural resources
  • Accomplish gender equality.
  • Empowerment of all girls and women.
• Sweden’s environmental protection plans are so strict and regulated to decreasing carbon emissions, that in 2012 Sweden already reached their 2020 target of producing 50% of their renewable energy.

Goals/Milestone Targets

• Food Waste: From 2020-2025 the total amount of food waste should be decreased by 20% per capita.
• Reuse of Packaging: Reusable packaging must increase by 20% from a 4-year period of 2022-2026 + 30% from 2022-2030. (Circular Economy)