19 June 2023
Today's Top Nordic Green News:
- Swedish Government hosts national climate meeting
- Norwegian Hurtigruten unveils 'Sea Zero', a zero-emissions cruise ship
- EU ambassadors confirm key elements of Fit for 55 climate package
Swedish Government hosts national climate meeting
On Friday, the Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson (M), hosted the national climate meeting with businesses, researchers and environmental organisations, where he unequivocally told Swedes that change was required, and hailing business and the EU as unsung heroes (for details of his speech click here).
A review by prominent climate influencer Mattias Goldmann described PM Kristersson, the Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch (KD) and the Minister for Climate and the Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari (L), as knowledgeable and confident on the issues with the focus mainly on things that can make a real climate difference with a view to Sweden's or the EU's goals. But he critiqued that criticism over climate policy, which has lost momentum was not included. And furthermore, the lack of representation of climate scientists and limited time for larger conservation organisations like the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Sw. Naturskyddsföreningen) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to speak was noted. Overall, Goldmann concluded that there was limited scope for genuine dialogue in the room due to a restrictive format but “Maybe - but just maybe - the climate meeting was a step for the Government to take more clear control of the process to achieve the climate goals.”
Swedish rhetoric fails to match up to reality
Also on Friday, new figures from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Sw. Naturvårdsverket) showed that emissions will increase after the Government’s decision to lower the climate requirements for petrol and diesel. The increase could be equivalent to 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in just three years, compared to if the climate requirements had been tightened as previously planned. The development goes against the goal that traffic emissions should be reduced by 70% by 2030 - and has led to harsh criticism of the Government from both the Climate Policy Council and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD. "Sweden has no alternative plan to reduce emissions until 2030. If such a plan is not put in place with concrete policies, Sweden will likely miss its national 2030 target," the OECD wrote in its Mid term review letter.
Drought in Sweden raises concerns
The recent weather in Sweden has been dominated by sun and dry conditions, raising concerns among farmers about potential crop damage. It is notable that southern Sweden experiences 30 more summer days since the 1970s due to climate change.
Norwegian Hurtigruten unveils 'Sea Zero', a zero-emissions cruise ship
Norwegian cruise and ferry company Hurtigruten has revealed plans for 'Sea Zero', a zero-emissions cruise ship designed to help reduce the industry's environmental impact. The ship, planned to operate along the Norwegian coast by 2030, is a part of the company's broader goal to transform its entire fleet into eco-friendly electric liners. The vessel will be 135 metres long, have 270 cabins and also feature a significant cargo hold and car transport capabilities. It will incorporate innovative technologies, including retractable sails with solar panels, artificial intelligence manoeuvring, contra-rotating propellers and retractable thrusters. The ship will be equipped with a 60 MWh battery pack and three retractable, autonomous wing rigs with solar panels and wind surfaces. An interactive mobile app will also allow guests to measure and manage their water and energy consumption. The project now enters a two-year phase of technology testing and development.
EU ambassadors confirm key elements of Fit for 55 climate package
EU ambassadors have recently confirmed two crucial aspects of the EU's extensive climate package, Fit for 55. These developments mark a significant milestone in achieving the EU's goal of reducing overall emissions by 55% by 2030 and becoming the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The Fit for 55 package, introduced by the European Commission in July 2021, includes comprehensive legislative proposals aimed at accelerating the climate transition and achieving climate neutrality. Under the leadership of the Swedish Presidency, the Council has secured agreements with the Parliament on various areas, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, charging infrastructure expansion, sustainable maritime fuels and sustainable aviation fuels. Additionally, the Council has adopted several important files, such as the Emission Trading System, Social Climate Fund, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Effort Sharing Regulation and stricter emissions standards for cars and vans.
Ørsted pushes forward with Hornsea 3 project despite rising costs
Ørsted is committed to advancing its ambitious Hornsea 3 offshore wind project off the Yorkshire coast, despite facing escalating costs. However, Ørsted's CEO Mads Nipper emphasises that the UK government must provide greater support to the sector, as current electricity prices offered to developers are insufficient to offset surging expenses. Nipper's remarks serve as a reminder of the need for policy changes to achieve rapid capacity growth and meet climate targets. Rising costs in the wind development industry are attributed to factors such as increased interest rates and supply chain expenses. Ørsted aims to make a final investment decision on Hornsea 3 this year after working on cost reduction strategies and revenue enhancement.
SeaTwirl receives SEK 3.4 million funding from OESA for S2x project development
Sweden's SeaTwirl has announced receiving SEK 3.4 million in funding from OESA (Ocean Energy Scale-Up Alliance) for the development of specific components within the S2x project. OESA, coordinated by the Dutch Marine Energy Center, aims to accelerate large-scale marine energy pilots in the EU. SeaTwirl's membership in OESA has facilitated testing and component manufacturing for the S2x project. With OESA's support, the company conducted tests at SSPA and started manufacturing blades at Elitkomposit. This funding and membership have been instrumental in advancing the S2x project while providing a broad European network for SeaTwirl.
USA and Sweden sign reinsurance agreements to strengthen cooperation in export support
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and Sweden's National Export Credits Guarantee Board (Sw. Exportkreditnämnden, EKN) have signed reinsurance agreements, enhancing their collaboration and support for American and Swedish companies. These agreements allow EXIM and EKN to share risks and provide more comprehensive assistance to exporters from both countries. The partnership aims to boost export opportunities, particularly in priority sectors such as telecommunications and renewable energy. The agreement was hailed as strengthening the cooperation between the Swedish and American governments, benefiting export-dependent Sweden and the global market. The signing took place in Lisbon, Portugal, between EKN's Director General Anna-Karin Jatko and EXIM's CEO and President Reta Jo Lewis.
Vestas secures order from American Vitol to replace turbines in Pennsylvania
Vestas has received an order from America's Vitol for 68 turbines of the V110-2.0 MW type, totalling 139 MW. The turbines will be installed in Pennsylvania, replacing existing turbines from Senvion. Vestas also announced a 20-year service agreement, AOM 5000, as part of the project. The delivery of the turbines is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024, with construction expected to commence in the fourth quarter of the same year. Vitol's head of renewable energy, Andrew de Pass, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration and Vitol's ongoing investment in renewable energy in the United States.
Sweden launches investigation to overcome obstacles in electrifying the transport sector
The Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure in Sweden has announced the appointment of a special investigator to identify and remove obstacles to the electrification of the transport sector. Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson emphasised the importance of the transport sector's transformation for Sweden's climate policy goals and industry competitiveness. The investigator's tasks include analysing opportunities for municipalities to facilitate electrified transport, proposing measures to simplify the establishment of charging infrastructure and addressing regulatory barriers. Trafikanalys director general Mattias Viklund has been appointed as the special investigator. The investigation is expected to be concluded by December 2024.
VELUX Group and WWF partner for climate and conservation projects in Vietnam and Madagascar
Danish manufacturing company VELUX Group, in collaboration with WWF, has announced two new forest conservation and restoration projects in Viet Nam and Madagascar as part of its commitment to capture historical emissions from operations. These projects, along with the existing project in Uganda, aim to offset the VELUX Group's CO2 emissions from 1941 to 2041. The partnership focuses on financing forest projects that contribute to emission reduction, biodiversity conservation and community development. The VELUX Group has set ambitious targets to reduce its own emissions and value chain emissions, aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The projects in Vietnam and Madagascar will enhance the forest portfolio and support different forest types, wildlife and local communities. The initiatives align with the Kunming-Montreal Agreement and demonstrate the urgent need for action to address climate and nature crises. Through nature-based solutions, these projects will contribute to climate mitigation and support the countries' climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
What we’re reading
- EU states back nuclear energy while diluting biodiversity reforms (Financial Times)
- Climate graphic of the week: first days of June bring record heat (Financial Times)
- Shell chief sets ‘ruthless’ new course to catch up with US rivals (Financial Times)
- Shell Challenged on Net Zero After Fossil-Fuel Investment Boost (Bloomberg)
- India seeks Taiwan, S. Africa backing on carbon border tax (livemint)
- EU to vote on extension for coal subsidies beyond 2025 Monday, draft shows (Reuters)
About Nordic Green News
The Nordic countries are some of the most dynamic and successful economies in the world. They are also leaders in sustainability, from renewable energy, biofuels, carbon capture and storage and the hydrogen economy, circular economy business models and battery development, the Nordics are pioneers in policy design, technology development and consumer uptake. Mundus Nordic Green News is covering this transition for the international community. Every day we curate the stories of most relevance to international businesspeople and policy experts from the flow of news. Mundus Nordic Green Indices summarise the meta-data from our daily coverage to enable easy tracking of trends. We supplement these with our own opinion pieces and commentary.
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