2014 Press release 24 September 2014 Ministry of the Environment Fredrik Reinfeldt and Lena Ek discuss the climate issue with world leaders On Tuesday 23 September, Minister for the Environment Lena Ek and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt are taking part in the UN Climate Summit in New York. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders from governments, the private sector and civil society to make concerted efforts for the climate and contribute to increased measures to tackle global warming. In Paris in 2015, the countries of the world are due to reach a new agreement to manage climate change and keep the global rise in temperature below two degrees. Participation, ownership and political commitment on the part of all countries will be necessary to bring about an agreement that covers the majority of the world's Related emissions. In bringing together over 120 heads of state and government, the Secretary-General hopes that the Climate Summit will generate major political support for an ambitious, dynamic and legally binding agreement Read more (in Swedish) about for all countries in Paris in just over a year's time. the Climate Summit on the Government website: "Several new partnerships and initiatives will be presented at the Climate Summit in areas such as agriculture, forestry, energy, cities and short-lived climate pollutants. The aim is to use these initiatives to engage a host of different actors and to encourage the kind of development and transition of society that takes greater External links consideration of both emission reductions and adaptation to the effects of climate change. For several years now, Sweden has been a driving force in work on short-lived climate pollutants and has already given its Report: New climate economy support to a declaration from the World Bank entitled Putting a Price on Carbon," says Ms Ek. The Climate Summit is taking place in New York on 23 September 2014. Sweden is initiative-taker for a global cooperation project - 'New Climate Economy' - which will be presented at the Climate Summit. The project report shows how measures to reduce climate impact can be combined with different countries' ambitions in terms of economic growth, poverty reduction and social development. Contact Mattias Johansson Head of Planning +46 8 405 10 00 email to Mattias Johansson, via the Senior registry clerk Julia Hector Desk Officer +46 72 560 72 86 Press release 18 July 2014 Ministry of the Environment Sweden urges the European Commission to implement the fuel quality directive Sweden calls on the EU commission to fully implement the last part of the EU's climate package, now three and a half years overdue. The commission's tardiness on its full implementation of the fuel quality directive risks opening Europe to dirty, unconventional fossils and puts Europe's climate goals at risk. The EU commission's inability to agree on a proposal on the implementation measures for Art 7a of the fuel quality directive, now three and half years overdue, risks opening Europe to large scale imports of unconventional fossil fuels like tar sands. The fuel quality directive is less known than the other parts of the EU's climate package from 2009, but with its legal obligation to reduce the carbon footprint from transport fuels by 6 per cent by 2020 it is of importance for EU's climate goals. After a previous failed attempt a new proposal for implementing measures is under discussion in the commission. It is crucial that the commission lives up to its previous promises and deliver the new proposal before the end of its term. - This is a question of Barroso's legacy as president of the commission; will his Commission deliver on his promises of achieving a resource efficient economy? says Sweden's minister for the environment Lena Ek. - It is a basic principle that each fuel must pay for its own environmental impact. It is unacceptable that we should apply this to alternative fuels but let the fossils off the hook, says Lena Ek. The difference between different fossil fuels can according to the EU Commission be as much as approximately 25 per cent higher from unconventional fossil fuels like tar sands (107 grams CO2/km) than from conventional (93 grams CO2/km) - If a transport fuel is better for the environment, there must be clear incentives to use low rather than high carbon fuels, says Lena Ek. Contact Emma Lindberg 072-5332062 Press release 11 June 2014 Ministry of the Environment OECD: Sweden a leader in environmental policy Sweden is on the front line in action for the environment and climate. This is confirmed by the OECD in its review of Swedish environmental policy in 2004-2012. Webcast Related OECD environmental performance review of Sweden Watch the webcast of the launching of the OECD review and read more about the The OECD regularly reviews countries' environmental policies, evaluates the results and presents OECD review recommendations for improvements. In its latest review, presented in Stockholm today, the OECD praises Sweden's work on green taxes and its success in combining emissions reductions with economic growth. The OECD also describes Sweden as a leader on climate issues in an international perspective and a pioneer in introducing financial policy instruments to improve the climate and the environment. External links OECD Environmental "It's pleasing that the OECD confirms Sweden's strong position in the environmental field and that we continue performance review of to be a leader in many areas of environmental policy. It's also valuable to read the OECD's recommendations Sweden: Assessment and on how we can work even more effectively to achieve our ambitious environmental policy objectives. We recommendations have begun work on making Sweden's unique environmental quality objectives more specific, but we are aware that further action is needed. So we will benefit greatly from the OECD's work," says Minister for the Environment Lena Ek. World class climate policy Sweden's emissions of greenhouse gases have decreased by 23 per cent since 1990, with particularly sharp reductions since the mid-2000s. The renewable energy target for 2020 has already been passed. The OECD notes that Sweden is aiming to retain its leading role through ambitious and long-term objectives on zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and a fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030. The OECD recommends phasing out exemptions from energy and carbon dioxide taxes and doing more to increase cooperation in Swedish climate policy. The Government shares the OECD's view and has appointed an inquiry on a well- defined roadmap for reaching the 2050 objective. It has also set a checkpoint for climate policy in 2015 and taken part in the initiative to launch the global project New Climate Economy, the aim of which is to show the economic benefits of climate action. Apart from the praise for and recommendations on climate policy, the OECD presents around twenty other recommendations for continued environmental efforts. To achieve Sweden's other national and international commitments, taxes and subsidies in the transport sector need to be evaluated, marine protected areas need to be expanded and work on the environmental objectives needs to be reviewed. Unique environmental objectives The OECD observes that the Swedish environmental objectives system, with its generational goal, several milestone targets and sixteen environmental quality objectives describing the desired state of Sweden's environment, is unique. The environmental objectives are a substantial commitment to achieve sustainable development, involving the whole of society. In the OECD's view, the actors in the system need to be better mobilised and more resources must be allocated in order to achieve the objectives. Over the past year, the Government has adopted new strategies, milestone targets and concrete measures to achieve the objectives. The responsibilities of 25 government agencies concerning the environmental objectives have been clarified in instructions and the Government will soon be appointing a national coordinator to put a special focus on the role of the business sector in the work on the environmental objectives. Previous review in 2004 The OECD regularly reviews the environmental policies of its member countries. Sweden was last reviewed in 2004. On that occasion, particular emphasis was given to Sweden's work on a green tax shift and its cohesive environmental legislation. At the same time, the OECD presented 44 recommendations for more effective environmental policy and for achieving the environmental objectives. "As noted by the OECD, Sweden is a pioneer in green taxes, which have enabled us to successfully combine emissions reductions with economic growth. We welcome the OECD's recommendations to develop financial policy instruments in other areas as well," says Ms Ek. What has the Government done for the environment between 2010 and 2014? Reduced discharges of nutrients to the Baltic Sea, reduced national greenhouse gas emissions and bans on harmful chemicals are some of the results of Swedish environmental policy over the last few years. The Government's overall environment policy during the latest electoral period is summarised in the brochure Miljöpolitiken 2010-2014: Insatser och resultat ('Environmental policy 2010-2014: action and results') from the Ministry of the Environment (available in Swedish only). Environmental policy during the 2010-2014 electoral period (Swedish only) Information material: Miljöpolitiken 2010-2014: Insatser