National parks and the right of access to nature
The "right of everyone"(allemansrätt) allows everyone in Sweden to walk freely in nature - in public spaces and private property - and to pick berries and mushrooms. This customary right reflects a conception of nature as a shared heritage. The country has 29 national parks on its territory which reconcile the preservation of natural environments and the reception of visitors. Swedish Lapland has 4 national parks(Sarek, Padjelanta, Muddus and Stora Sjöfjället), which protect ecosystems of forests, tundra, lakes and glaciers. The Fulufjället and Tiveden national parks in central Sweden protect old-growth forests, while Skåne is home to the Söderåsen, Dalby Söderskog and Stenshuvud national parks. Sweden also has coastal and marine national parks, such as Kosterhavet National Park, which protects the Kosterhavet Islands, and Haparanda Archipelago National Park in the Gulf of Bothnia.
Sweden's response to climate change
Sweden is experiencing the effects associated with global warming, with annual temperature increases twice as high as the global average. The country experienced an unprecedented heat wave in 2018, resulting in severe drought and forest fires. Hay ran out, forcing some farmers to slaughter livestock, and lower harvests necessitated grain imports. In 2022, Sweden experienced another heatwave and came close to its all-time record heat (38°C in 1933 and 1947) with a temperature of 37.2°C in Målilla, Kalmar County. The country did not wait for these events to occur before taking action to combat climate change. Since the 1970s, Sweden has had a proactive policy to limit its dependence on fossil fuels, based in particular on the development of renewable energies (hydroelectricity, biomass, waste, wind power). A carbon tax was introduced in 1991. In 2018, renewable energy accounted for 54.6% of gross final energy consumption, putting Sweden at the top of the European rankings. More than 75% of the capital is heated by district heating networks (mostly powered by biomass and waste) and its buses run on biogas. Sweden has developed eco-districts: Västra hamnen, built in Malmö, more recently Hammarby Sjöstad in the capital, and the ongoing Stockholm project Royal Seaport. However, the country, which is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2045, remains a major energy consumer. Dams also have the disadvantage of weakening natural environments and biodiversity.
Impacts related to forestry operations
While trees cover 69% of the land, plantations dominate, with old-growth forests accounting for only 12% of the total, and less than 6% of classified forests. The country developed through logging in the 19th century and industry remains largely based on wood (biofuels, paper, furniture construction). A study published in the journal Nature in 2020 highlighted the increase in logged areas in the country for the period 2016-2018, which contributes to lower carbon storage. Replanting of softwoods after clear-cutting, including in old-growth forests, also leads to a loss of biodiversity and less resistance to natural hazards. A Greenpeace report published in 2017 revealed the deforestation of the Swedish and Russian boreal forest by subcontractors of the Swedish company Essity (manufacturer of tissues and toilet paper). Paper manufacturing also induces the emission of pollutants and requires significant water resources.
Improving the quality of freshwater and the Baltic Sea
Agricultural discharges contribute to the eutrophication of rivers, lakes, but also the Baltic Sea, where "dead zones" can be observed. The Baltic Sea is an enclosed, shallow sea and is polluted by the various countries that border it. In addition to agricultural pollution, there are industrial discharges and discharges from shipping. The Helsinki Convention, which brings together the nine countries bordering the Baltic, has set up a concerted action programme for the period 2007-2021 to combat pollution and protect the sea's biodiversity.
Circular economy and sobriety
The country recycles 99% of its waste, thanks to an advanced circular economy approach and a financial incentive. Waste is turned into energy, and cans and plastic bottles are returned. There is also a shopping center in the country that sells only recycled or second-hand products, The ReTuna Återbruksgalleria. This approach is similar to Lagom, a certain art of living based on the "middle ground" and sobriety. The köpskam, or shame to buy, has also appeared in a country where the consumer society is still very present.
Soft mobility
Sweden is accessible by train and bicycle, and crossed by EuroVelo 3, 7, 10, and 12. Public transport and intermodality are well developed. Stockholm introduced a congestion charge after a referendum in 2006, and has seen a significant reduction in both road traffic and fine particle pollution. The flygskam, or "the shame of taking the plane" has developed following the Paris Climate Agreement. More than an emotion, the term describes an attitude based on the will to fight against global warming, followed by actions. Indeed, Sweden has seen a significant increase in train travel in 2019 and a decrease in domestic flights, also due to other factors, such as the taxation of airline tickets in 2018. Investments are being made to develop the rail network and especially night trains to Europe. Since 2022, it has been possible to reach Hamburg from the Swedish capital, and other lines are being created.
Greta Thunberg, a leading figure in climate activism
Finally, we cannot conclude this chapter without mentioning the young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who initiated theFridays for the Future strikes in 2018, and who has drawn a whole section of the world's youth into her wake. The young Swedish activist has also created a foundation that supports projects around the world, and continues her commitment by speaking at international summits or participating in more targeted demonstrations and political actions.
Romina Pourmokhtari: a hope for a worried youth?
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderates), elected in October 2022, has chosen to give a voice to youth to defend the climate within his government. Romina Pourmokhtari, who was appointed Minister of the Environment on October 18, 2022, became the youngest minister in the history of Sweden at the age of 26. However, one wonders if this choice is not largely symbolic, as the former president of the Liberal Party Youth Association has never shown any particular commitment to the environmental cause before.
